California has wrapped up a particularly good asparagus season. “Although California doesn’t produce large volumes, it serves many premium clients,” says James Paul of Greg Paul Produce Sales Inc., which distributes the product as part of a program with The Giumarra Companies.
This season, volume out of California increased, and while the state usually begins shipping asparagus in mid-March, this year production started nearly a month earlier, in mid-February. “We had a very mild winter that gradually warmed up, allowing us to extend the season. We didn’t experience any major heat waves,” explains Paul, who notes that the season ended at the usual time, between mid and late May.
Meanwhile, all local asparagus programs are underway in the states of Washington and Michigan, covering West Coast volumes, as well as in New Jersey, Indiana, and Quebec, which has a considerable quantity of asparagus it is trying to export to the U.S. Peru is also continuing to export asparagus, while Mexico is currently supplying product from Baja California. Paul adds that “in the near future, larger volumes will begin to come from Central Mexico, but currently, Mexican supply is among the lowest in the country.”
Strong Demand for California Asparagus
On the demand side, California’s planted acreage is at a level that keeps demand high. “Local consumers are very aware of the timing and seasonality of California asparagus. It’s one of the first fresh local products our region can really enjoy,” says Paul. He adds that pricing negotiations also peaked during the California season. “This led some buyers to seek out local product rather than letting the dollar’s value drive their decision. It’s been a very good year for local growers, and I hope it continues.”
As a result, prices remained high. “We’re a bit of a special case because our volumes are so small that prices are independently set, rather than directly compared to the import markets from Mexico or Peru, for example. We have our own market, a bit more premium than the import one during the season,” explains Paul, who notes that import prices have also been higher in recent months.
For more information:
James Paul
Greg Paul Produce Sales, Inc.
Tel: +1 (209) 952-0580
Email: james@gregpaulproduce.com
www.gregpaulproduce.com
Publication date: Monday, May 26, 2025
© FreshPlaza.co.uk / Astrid van den Broek
