So, why is most of the asparagus currently in the grocery stores from Mexico?
Asparagus (or “grass” as we produce people call it) is a semi-permanent crop: it stays in the ground year-round, but the plants don’t last as long as, say, avocados or citrus. Even though it takes 3 years for an asparagus plant to grow from seed before farmers can start harvesting, the plants can yield edible spears for over 15 years. However, they only get 6-8 weeks per year of a crop! That makes growing a field of asparagus very expensive.
California has the strictest laws regarding pesticide and fertilizer use, as well as food safety requirements. We also have high real estate values and water shortages. Our labor costs more than Mexico and other states. All these factors contribute to some of the highest growing costs in the world.
In North America, the Peruvian harvest season spans from September through January, and the Mexican harvest season is from December through April. California growers typically start harvesting in late February through June, competing with growers in Mexico, as well as those in Washington, Michigan, and New Jersey, whose seasons generally run from April through June. Worldwide, China and Germany are also major producers of asparagus.
California growers have a very short window in which to make a profit from asparagus. In the past years, Talley Farms has purchased organic asparagus from Ippolito in the Salinas Valley. This year, they stopped growing it. Thankfully, we still have growers in the Delta area of the San Joaquin Valley. Without our support, more California growers will stop growing grass. Look for and ask for California- grown produce, or you may not find it someday.
Want to learn more about how asparagus grows and why it causes your pee to smell? Check out the video below!
