PERU - Retailers, get ready to promote. Asparagus volume will be ramping up within the coming weeks as new fields in Ica, Peru come into production.

Despite the recent fluctuating market, growers are now responding with improved volumes from both Peru and Baja and, as a result, supplies should be excellent for the next couple of months.

This is an exciting time of year for Southern Specialties and Gourmet Trading. Both companies are looking forward to fantastic overall quality from the new fields in southern Peru, but will continue to monitor volumes and yields as they approach the year’s end.

“We have good quality as we did last year,” said Carlos Solf, Southern Specialties’ Director of Procurement. “Demand has been good as well. There are a lot of opportunities to promote small sizes, which have great flavor, cook quicker, and have more stalks to the pound. We can provide excellent quality at prices that provide great value to the consumer.”

Lately, the market has been variable with significant peaks and valleys, Solf added. The Guanajuato harvest this season ended somewhat faster than usual, which kept supplies on the short-end for late August and for most of September. Subsequently, prices were pushed up to levels not usually seen for this time of year. With the improving volumes and the softening airfreight rates, however, market pricing should start to adjust.

“The recent lack of volume and related high prices did stall retail movement,” said Gourmet Trading’s Jan McDaniels, Sales. “Volumes have significantly increased from the new fields over the past week so we are expecting excellent supplies for the next couple of months. The improving volumes from both Peru and Baja, coupled with the softening airfreight rates, are allowing the market pricing to adjust so we can restart volume shipping and promotions with all sectors.”

As of October 1, 2015, the USDA reported prices of Peruvian imported asparagus at South Florida at $17.00 - $21.00 for jumbo sizes, $17.00 - $20.00 for extra large sizes, $17.00 - $20.00 for large sizes, $16.00 - $18.00 for standard sizes, and $11.00 - $14.00 for small sizes.

McDaniels added that Gourmet Trading is excited to work with increasing volumes of non-fumigated asparagus from the company’s Baja fields, especially for its West Coast customers.

“The improving volumes are also allowing us to expand the bagged asparagus program to better service our retail and food service customers,” said McDaniels. “We are looking forward to great volume from both regions for the October and November period.”

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track the asparagus market. 

Southern Specialties Gourmet Trading