Peruvian asparagus importers share news update
Altar boosts Peruvian program
Calexico, Calif.-based Altar Produce LLC is ramping up its participation in the Peruvian asparagus deal, said president Chris Ramirez.
The company’s short-term objective is 250,000 to 350,000 11-pound cartons this year, he said.
That’s up from 150,000 cartons last year.
Eventually, Ramirez would like to see the firm top 1 million cartons, similar to what it was shipping five years ago.
“We have seen a huge adjustment due to the amount of pressure from Mexican volume but also due to Peruvian growers dropping out of asparagus altogether,” he said.
Market conditions have been difficult to navigate because of supply and demand issues, Ramirez said.
“There is too much speculation going on and (asparagus) became very difficult to promote.”
ACL reports smooth sailing
Unlike at some ports on the West Coast, where major delays have become commonplace, it’s pretty much business as usual at ports in southern Florida, said Jose Medina, owner of American Consolidation & Logistics in Miami.
“We’ve had some late vessels, but I think that, overall, we’re doing a lot better than most of the other points of entry,” he said.
ACL represents several importers who typically import Peruvian asparagus nine or 10 months each year, he said.
The company offers third-party logistics, including storage, cooling, warehousing and fumigation.
ACL deals with about 15 commodities, but asparagus is its leading category, he said.
Ayco Farms expects good quality
Ayco Farms Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla., is hoping for better asparagus growing weather in Peru during November and December than the region experienced in September, said Alejandro Pietri, imports manager.
“September was tight,” he said, with cold weather resulting in later production than usual in the Ica area in the southern part of the country.
But conditions had improved by October and quality of asparagus out of Ica was good, he said.
Pricing also was dropping as production in Mexico picked up.
Melons are the largest-volume item Ayco Farms ships, but the company also offers mangoes and lemons as well as asparagus.
Program steady at Carb Americas
The 2021 Peruvian asparagus program at Carb Americas Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., will be quite similar to last year’s, said Jeff Friedman, president.
“We’re steady with our strong contingent of growers that we’ve been partners with for almost 30 years,” Friedman said.
Adding new growers has been difficult the past couple of seasons because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
Nonetheless, “Everything is moving along smoothly.”
Friedman expects good quality asparagus out of Peru as the harvest gets underway in the Ica growing area.
Crystal Valley adds bagging options
As a reliable source for asparagus 52 weeks a year, Peru plays an important role at Miami-based Crystal Valley Foods, said Katiana Valdes, marketing director.
“We make sure we always have Peruvian asparagus to supplement our other sourcing regions throughout the year,” she said. “It helps to ensure that our customers are always covered in case of a weather-related or other unforeseen issue.”
The company recently renovated a facility in Miami where asparagus can be bagged to customer specifications.
Packaging options include 8-ounce tips, 12-ounce cut asparagus and 1- and 2-pound bags.
Controlled-atmosphere bags help extend shelf life, many packs options are ready to eat or cook, and most of them come in a microwaveable bag, Valdes said.
Consumers remain in a COVID-19 mindset, which means they continue to be concerned about cleanliness and health, she said.
“There is good demand for packaged produce that gives shoppers a sense of security, plus it is extremely convenient and ready to prepare.”
Also, packaged or value-added produce typically comes with a scannable barcode, which helps with touchless or scan-and-go checkout options that some retailers are moving toward, she said.
Farm Direct draws from new fields
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Farm Direct Supply LLC is importing some good-looking asparagus from Peru this fall, and general manager Chris Horrell expects that to continue through January.
“We’re starting to receive from a couple of new fields, and the quality has been really nice,” he said Oct. 21.
Weather has improved after a cold spell in September, he added.
“The main challenges are still associated with supply chain,” Horrell said.
Issues with air freight and delayed ocean vessels have had a “serious impact” on shipments and caused significant delays, he said.
“It seems it’s going to continue until the end of the year.”
The situation isn’t much better once asparagus arrives in the U.S., he said.
“We’re anticipating some truck shortages for the upcoming holiday season.”
Five Crowns opens new facility
Brawley, Calif.-based Five Crowns Marketing has opened a 180,000-square-foot warehouse and processing facility in Tracy, Calif., with new tray and bagging equipment to support customer demand, said Gary Meadows, vice president, Los Angeles Division.
The company also has added sales support staff.
Five Crowns has expanded its year-round presence in Peru, Mexico and Washington and expects its asparagus volume to be up 39% compared to last year, Meadows said.
The company now ships Peruvian asparagus from Tracy, Brawley, Los Angeles and Miami.
Asparagus has become a mainstream item in the produce department, he said, and Meadows encourages retailers to promote the product during peak season – from October through mid-December.
The company offers Peruvian asparagus in bulk carton presentations and custom packs including 1-pound and 1-kilo (2.25 pounds) bags.
Perishable Specialist marks 20 years
As the 2021 Peruvian asparagus deal approaches its peak in November, The Perishable Specialist Inc., a Miami-based customs broker, will be celebrating its 20th anniversary, said Frank Ramos, president and CEO.
The company is a 24/7 customs brokerage specializing in perishables and fruits and vegetables.
The firm clears customs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration for its customers and handles the fumigation process and sets up delivery to warehouses in Miami, he said.
Ramos said he’s seen shipments increase this fall.
“The volumes are pretty high,” he said. “I’d say they’re on par with what they were in 2019.”
Seven Seas expects jump in volume
Seven Seas, Vero Beach, Fla., expects to see a more than 25% increase in Peruvian asparagus volume this year, said Tracy Wood, vice president of sales.
The growth has been continuing for about four years, Wood said.
“Our asparagus business has grown exponentially,” he said. “We’ve been able to expand our customer base and our business.”
Much of that growth came from pursuing “uncharted territory in the retail and foodservice sector.”
Seven Seas expects good-quality asparagus and consistent supplies out of Peru after the growing region experienced cooler-than-usual weather the past couple of months, Wood said.
The season should peak in early November.
The company covers the Midwest and the East primarily but plans to expand into the West in future years, he said.
Southern Specialties offers white asparagus
Most of the white asparagus produced in Peru is shipped to Europe, said Charlie Eagle, vice president, business development for Southern Specialties Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla.
But a sizable amount comes to the U.S. via Southern Specialties.
“We’ve been a leader in supplying white asparagus that mainly goes to the foodservice trade,” Eagle said.
The company probably has shipped white asparagus for 20 years, he said, mostly to restaurants and some upscale retailers who like to display it during the holidays or simply as a supplement to their green asparagus.
Although white asparagus typically is perceived as a luxury item, Southern Specialties can offer retail customers attractive pricing throughout the year, Eagle said.
“It’s an item that retailers can often make a good margin on.”
In Europe, steamed white asparagus often is served with brown butter, hardboiled eggs and chopped fresh herbs, he said.
It also works well in salads when it’s combined with green asparagus.
Purple asparagus also is becoming more popular and is available from Southern Specialties from time to time, Eagle said.
Square One adds bagging equipment
Sunrise, Fla.-based Square One Farms LLC has installed new flowpack bagging equipment at its packing facility, said founder Tim Ryan.
The family-owned company, which o ffers asparagus in 12-ounce and 1- and 2-pound consumer packs as well as bulk cartons, can pack Peruvian asparagus to order, he said.
Square One also has a new office to accommodate an expanding sales and operation staff, he said.
“As a company, we are growing rapidly,” Ryan said, adding support staff for accounting, sales and logistics.
Square One farms was founded in 2018 and has quickly become a leading Peruvian asparagus distributor, he said.
Ryan said he has been shipping asparagus out of Peru since the early 1990s.
