Spears for years: Peruvian asparagus offers steady supply to U.S.

Americans consume over 500 million pounds of asparagus each year, with the vast majority, or 80%-90% of the vegetable being imported, primarily from Mexico and Peru, according to the USDA. In 2021, Peru accounted for about 40% of the value of all U.S. asparagus imports, second only to Mexico’s 59% share of imports.

By value, according to the USDA, the top sources of imported asparagus in the U.S. from April 2021 through March 2022, compared with a year earlier, were:

• Mexico: $381.6 million, 2% down from $389.5 million;
• Peru: $263.7 million, up 2% from $257.7 million; and
• Canada: $8.3 million, up 48% from $5.6 million.

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

“The U.S. Department of Commerce reported a 14% year-over-year volume increase of fresh market asparagus imports to the U.S. in 2021, said the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association, or PAIA, in a news release. “With the two main source contributors being Peru and Mexico, the year-over-year volume increase for each country empowers importers to work closely with their retailer and foodservice customers to forecast and implement promotions year-round.”

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

“Imported asparagus is a year-round commodity, and importers will continue to provide various buying options for their customers,” added PAIA co-Chairman Walter Yager, of Alpine Fresh, in the release. “Asparagus is a nutritional powerhouse with versatile preparation possibilities.”

PAIA importer members have been sharing their fresh asparagus recipes with U.S. consumers since 2021. But PAIA is stepping up its recipe creation and promotion with the help of Peruvian asparagus importers, such as Southern Specialties of Pompano Beach, Fla., Yager said.

“Our association’s importer companies have their finger on the pulse of freshness and quality. These industry professionals supply the U.S. retailers’ shelves and foodservice — across the nation and beyond — with fresh asparagus year-round. They know fresh,” Priscilla Lleras-Bush, association director, said in the recent news release that spotlighted a recipe for Southern Specialties’ Green and White Asparagus with Heirloom Tomatoes.

“We work hard to get the nutritional and wellness benefits of asparagus out there,” Charlie Eagle, Southern Specialties vice president, business development, told The Packer. “Many of our packages, our websites and our information sheets include recipes and health-related information.”

Promoting the health benefits and versatility of asparagus is critical to moving the category forward, agreed Katiana Valdes, director of marketing and business development for Crystal Valley Foods in Miami, Fla.

“Since the end consumer is at retail, online or at a foodservice venue, we work closely with our customers to help them promote asparagus at their locations. Although consumption has steadily increased over the years, there is still great potential for us as an industry to help grow the asparagus category and increase demand,” Valdes said. “We need to remind current asparagus consumers about its great health benefits and introduce new and innovative usages, and we also need to reach out to those consumers who may not know about this amazing vegetable yet.”

Beyond traditional point of sale and recipe sharing in-store and on websites and social platforms, Valdes said in-store demos are also “a great vehicle for increasing retail movement, and offer customers a chance to try the product, perhaps in a unique way that they might not have thought of before.”

Cross-merchandising complementary products may also boost sales, said Valdes, who pointed to displaying asparagus alongside lemons, steak, bacon, grilling essentials and brunch items, such as eggs and cheese. Valdes further noted that Crystal Valley Foods’ marketing team can assist retailers in the creation of content and marketing materials.

Promotable supplies from Peru

While cool temperatures during Peru’s winter this year have led to slightly lower yields, suppliers of asparagus from Peru are confident that steady supplies will prevail — even with a slight decrease in both asparagus imports and production from Peru.

“We expect supplies from Peru to be similar to last season, with production increasing in late September and promotable supplies beginning in October,” said Tracy Wood, vice president of sales for Seven Seas in Vero Beach, Fla. “It has been a cool winter in Peru, with lower yields so far in July. At this time, [we] expect to begin harvesting for the primary Peru season in mid-September, with promotable volume in October through mid-January.”

Eagle of Southern Specialties sees the Peruvian asparagus season tracking similarly.

“Production from Peru is approximately the same as last year,” he said. “Exports to the U.S. have increased about 5% this year. This is largely due to obstacles in reaching other countries.”

Year-round cultivation

While the Peruvian asparagus season typically peaks September through December, a climate that allows for year-round cultivation, is one reason this South American country is a powerhouse of asparagus production.

“Peru has a variety of climates that are ideal for growing asparagus,” Valdes noted. “The benefit of Peru is that asparagus can be grown in the north and south, and the two regions peak at different times. This allows us to import asparagus 52 weeks a year from Peru.”

For Seven Seas, which works with grower partners in the northern, central and southern regions along the coast of Peru, asparagus is always in season.

“Asparagus production in Peru is primarily along the west coast in what is considered a coastal desert,” Wood said. “The moderate temperatures, daily sunshine and sandy soils along the coast are ideal for asparagus production. These conditions, combined with varietal selection and water management, result in an excellent quality product.”

Sourcing from a number of grower partners in different parts of the country allows Seven Seas to provide its customers with asparagus, virtually year-round.

“This also gives us access to ship from multiple ports throughout the season,” Wood said.

The News in Charts is a collection of stories from the industry complemented by charts from Agronometrics to help better tell their story.

Access the original article with this (Link)