Los Angeles-based Progressive Produce has a year-round supply of Peruvian asparagus, but the company sees peak supply from July through February.
“We have light supplies out of Peru February through June, and then our supplies increase June through the rest of the year,” said Lauren Brierly, sales manager. “Our peak supply from Peru is July through the following February, each year.”
Brierly said the company has peak supplies from northern Peru from July through September. Harvest transitions to the south, with peak supplies there from October through February.
Peru’s weather has been cooler this year, and that has served to improve quality, Brierly said.
This fall through the winter, Progressive Produce is anticipating a 20% increase in Peruvian asparagus production, she said.
“Progressive Produce is excited to continue to be a year-round supplier on asparagus,” she said. “Peru will continue to be an important component to our 52-week asparagus supply.”
Organics blocked
Fumigation is in place for Peruvian asparagus shipments to the U.S. and Brierly said that is an obstacle for organic asparagus growth.
“We are always working to increase our production out of Peru on organics, but fumigation remains a big obstacle,” she said.
Peru is still battling the COVID-19 pandemic, and access to vaccinations has not kept pace with the U.S. progress with the virus, Brierly said.
“Labor remains the biggest challenge for 2021,” she said.
One bright note, she said, is that Progressive Produce expects no serious problems with transportation or container availability to the U.S.
“While there have been logistical challenges over the past 16 months, so far Progressive Produce has had more than adequate service levels thus far and we expect that to continue through the end of the year,” she said.
Sustainability initiative
Progressive Produce’s Rooted sustainability initiative focuses on people, planet and practices , she said.
“We’re doing our part to build a better tomorrow by ensuring workplace well-being, giving back to our community, minimizing our carbon footprint, and utilizing sustainable growing, packaging and shipping practices,” Brierly said.
She said the company also is devoting attention to the evolution of packaging.
“We are able to do several different consumer packs, and we are always looking and experimenting with new technologies and developing new packaging to ensure that we provide the best options for our customers,” Brierly said.
In terms of marketing, she said that Progressive Produce partners with customers to ensure retailers meet their individual specific needs on asparagus and other commodities that the company supplies.
