Moving fresh asparagus from Peru to the U.S. is increasingly costly and challenging, and shipping the vegetable from importers’ warehouses to customers’ distribution centers in the U.S. isn’t a piece of cake.
Pompano Beach, Fla.-based Southern Specialties has handled Peruvian asparagus since 2001 and has year-round supply to offer customers, said Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development.
By volume, U.S. imports of Peruvian asparagus in 2020 totaled 93,652 metric tons, up 2.6% compared with 91,266 metric tons in 2019 and up 7% from 2010.
Importers report good volume and quality for Peruvian asparagus, with interest expected to tick up as production in numerous other regions finishes up.