Asparagus

Commodity Overview

Promote asparagus year-round to encourage shoppers to think of it as more than just a springtime vegetable. Provide cross-merchandising options to use asparagus’s growing popularity to increase sales of other items, as well.

PLUs

3079 purple
4080 green, small
4521 green, large
4522 white, small
4523 white, large
4524 tips

Varieties

Green Asparagus

White Asparagus

Purple Asparagus

Retail Price Data is based on USDA Specialty Crops Market News surveys. Data collection ends on the report date and encompasses ad pricing good from the Saturday before the report release date through the following Friday. Weekly data - from over 400 retailers, comprising more than 30,000 individual stores with online weekly advertised features - covers over 250 produce items. Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

USDA Specialty Crops Market News publishes FOB and Movement data on a daily and weekly basis. Pricing and volume information is aggregated by commodity and published weekly, subject to any source-data adjustments. Commodity data is further processed based on origin (domestic vs imports) and type (regular vs. organic). Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

Facts

Asparagus offers many health benefits, especially because it contains several micronutrients that offer big benefits. Asparagus contains glutathione, which is a cancer-fighter. Rutin, which helps to strengthen blood vessels, is plentiful in asparagus. Asparagus has the most folacin of any vegetable, which means that eating it can help prevent neural tube defects in babies.
Asparagus also contains chromium, which helps insulin carry glucose into cells.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following nutrient content descriptors for asparagus: fat-free, saturated fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, low in calories, a good source of vitamin C and high in folate.

Sales Strategies

Market asparagus with other items like Hollandaise sauce, cheese, olive oil, butter or margarine, lemons and Italian dressing to produce department sales.
Asparagus is available year-round but is most plentiful in the spring. Create a marketing plan that includes asparagus during all seasons. Try some of these seasonal ideas:
Fall: Include asparagus in soup displays to interest consumers in a different flavor and texture to add to soups and stews.
Winter: Encourage consumers to consider asparagus as a side dish for holiday meals. Asparagus’s great flavor and interesting looks make it a great dish for the festive table.
Spring: Spring is asparagus’s time to shine. Include it in promotions for Easter and Mother’s Day. Encourage consumers to take advantage of increased supply and lower prices.
Summer: Asparagus is the perfect grilling vegetable. Include it in summertime grilling promotions, especially around the traditional summertime holidays. Offer offering grilling packs, with shorter, trimmed stalks and include a recipe for the grill.

Dynamic Displays

While many consumers are familiar with the green asparagus variety, create an eye-catching and interesting display by adding purple and white varieties to the display, as well.
Display asparagus bundles in an area where they will be kept moist but not overly wet. If they sit in too much water, they will begin to rot. Asparagus can be displayed in bundles or bags.
Place asparagus next to brighter-colored vegetables that pair well with asparagus for a meal. Consider placing asparagus next to red potatoes, eggplant or carrots.

Food Service

Asparagus is a great vegetable for foodservice because its long stalks add interest and drama to any plate.
Puree asparagus to add a deep green color to any plate presentation.
Choose long, thin stalks for your dishes as they are more tender and cook faster than thicker stalks.
Add asparagus to salads and salad bars.
Asparagus makes a great side dish for just about any meal when served with Hollandaise or cheese sauce.

In the Backroom

Shipping
30-lb. (minimum) pyramid cartons/crates, bunched or loose 28-lb. cartons/crates, bunched 24- to 25-lb. cartons, 161⁄2 packages 21-lb. lugs/cartons, loose 20-lb. 1⁄2-pyramid cartons 20-lb. cartons, bunched 15- to 17-lb. 1⁄2 pyramid cartons/crates, loose or bunched 15-lb. cartons, loose or bunched 14-lb. cartons 12-lb. 1⁄2 cartons 12-13 1⁄2-lb. 1⁄3 cartons/crates, bunched 11-lb. cartons/crates RPC: Not available. Foodservice packs Cartons, 6 5-lb. bags

Grades
United States U.S. No. 1 U.S. No. 2 Washington Washington XF (extra fancy) California stalk diameters Small – 3⁄16 inches and larger Standard – 5⁄16 inches and larger Large – 7⁄16 inches and larger Extra large – 10⁄16 inches and larger Jumbo – 13⁄16 inches and larger Colossal – 1 inch and larger

Handling
Temperature: 37 to 41 F, 2.8 to 5 C Relative humidity: 95-100% Mist: Lightly Typical shelf life: 10 to 21 days Highly sensitive to freezing injury. Asparagus seldom is stored for more than 10 days. If product is to be held more than 10 days, store at 35 F to avoid low-temperature chilling injury. Fresh asparagus deteriorates rapidly when low temperatures are not maintained. At room temperature, it quickly develops a woody tissue and loses sugar content. Good-quality asparagus will be fresh and firm with closed, compact tips and good green color.