The sun is again shining in the asparagus growing areas in California. “The asparagus has greatly benefited from the extra time in the beds,” said Clark Mizuno, president of Mizuno Farms in Tracy, CA. “We are currently packing some of the sweetest asparagus we’ve seen in years.”
Cherie Watte, Executive Director of the California Asparagus Commission, confirmed that she anticipates promotable quantities for the traditional Easter and Mother’s Day features. Growers are harvesting a full range of sizes. The pencil-thin standard size is often used in salads and on pizzas. The large size lends itself to use in stir-fries and as a side dish, while the jumbos are being increasingly enjoyed as an addition to a barbecue meal. Savvy retailers are now offering all three, to be sure to satisfy the needs of their shoppers. Watte encourages retailers to visit the newly upgraded and redesigned www.calasparagus.com Web site to find market-proven POS and other materials to download in support of in-store promotions. The site now also features easy-to-retrieve recipes and asparagus usage ideas for consumers and foodservice menu planners. “Given the late start for the harvest and the continued cooperation of Mother Nature, we should be able to continue to ship fine quality California asparagus well into June,” she added.
Source: California Asparagus Commission