Ample supplies of Peruvian asparagus expected

Peruvian growers exported 206.48 million pounds of asparagus to the U.S. during 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and shipments should be slightly higher for 2021, predicts the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association.

“We anticipate steady imports through the end of the year and into January,” said Priscilla Lleras-Bush, PAIA executive director.

With U.S. per capita consumption of asparagus at an all-time high in 2020 – an estimated 1.83 pounds – Lleras-Bush encourages retailers to continue to promote “one of the healthiest vegetables in the fresh category.”

Pricing

After spiking from September until mid-October, f.o.b. prices on asparagus were beginning to dip in late October.

The USDA reported that 11-pound cartons of small, green asparagus from Peru were $6.75-10.75 on Oct. 22. Standard size was mostly $12.75-14.75, and large asparagus was mostly $13-14.75. Cartons of white Peruvian asparagus were $21.75-23.75.

At the same time in 2020, cartons of small, green asparagus were mostly $16.75-17.75, standard size cartons were mostly $21.75-22.75, and cartons of large green asparagus were mostly $22.75-23.75. Cartons of large, white asparagus were $17.75-18.75.

Peru plays a very important role for the U.S. market, supplying asparagus about 10 months of the year – from April through January – said Tim Ryan, founder of Square One Farms LLC, Sunrise, Fla. 

“The fourth quarter is the highest volume of the year,” he said.

Peruvian asparagus volume from Square One Farms is expected to be up more than 15% this year compared to 2020. “Demand is increasing,” Ryan said, especially in the fall, when consumers do more cooking. Shifting weather patterns have affected availability somewhat this season, causing a few gaps or overlapping supplies, he said.

Cool weather in Peru has put a damper on movement, but Chris Ramirez, president of Altar Produce LLC, Calexico, Calif., said he was hopeful that conditions would improve in November and December. “September was a disaster,” he said, and some retailers were stung when planned promotions had to be scrapped. Ramirez said he visited Peru in September. “It definitely felt cooler than usual,” he said. But as volume picks up from Peru and Mexico and the holidays approach, he is hopeful that promotions will return. “We’re trying to get everybody riled up again because there’s a lot of volume,” he said. “We need everybody to wake up and start eating asparagus again.”

COVID-19 and Labor

Some packing facilities were hard hit by COVID-19 cutbacks last year, said Jeff Friedman, president of Carb Americas Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. But conditions improved as COVID-19 protocols were introduced, he said. 

Labor challenges are nothing new in Peru, however. “Labor is leaving the suburbs and going into the urban areas,” Friedman said.

Workers can make more money in construction and other jobs in the city rather than straining their backs in the fields, he said.

Southern Specialties Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla., was a bit behind on Peruvian asparagus volume in mid-October, but Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development, expected good quality with increased movement by early November. He predicted that volume would be “marginally higher” than last year. Southern Specialties imports asparagus from Peru year-round, Eagle said.

“Many foodservice distributors and retailers rely on Peru asparagus to be the mainstay of their asparagus program or, in some instances, to help fill gaps when Mexican product isn’t available,” he said.

Seven Seas, Vero Beach, Fla., imports Peruvian asparagus from mid-April through mid-January, said Tracy Wood, vice president of sales. It’s a big item for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Mother’s Day and Easter, he said. Wood expected prices to be similar to last year following the higher prices and tight supplies in early fall. “We should see somewhat normalized supplies for the end of the Peruvian season,” he said.

Packaging

Consumer packs of asparagus seem to be on the rise for some importers.

“We can provide the pack size or pack style that is right for any customer,” said Eagle of Southern Specialties. Options range from 6- or 8-ounce trimmed asparagus up to a large club store value-added bag. The company also has seen increased demand for private label asparagus offerings. Seven Seas offers 1- and 2-pound bags of asparagus and 1-kilo bags, Wood said, but he added that the company has not experienced an increase in demand for packaged product.