Asparagus

Revised, August 2021

Introduction

Asparagus is a high-value, labor-intensive perennial vegetable. It is an early season crop that lends itself well to small-scale and part-time farming operations as well as direct-to-consumer retail marketers when combined with other crops. U.S. annual per capita consumption of fresh asparagus has been steadily increasing over the last decade to 1.9 pounds in 2018. It is a low calorie, nutritious vegetable that is high in iron, fiber, and vitamins C and A; one cup of asparagus contains 3 grams of protein.

Marketing

Most of the asparagus harvested in the United States is sold as fresh. It is traditionally sold in pyramid crates packed with 1.5- to 2.5-pound bunches held with a rubber band. Several marketing alternatives are available to the asparagus grower: wholesale marketing, produce auctions, cooperatives, local retailers, roadside stands, and pick-your-own operations.

Production

Asparagus, native of temperate regions, succeeds best where either low temperatures or drought stops plant growth for a “rest” period and should not be considered for commercial production where warm conditions result in the plant's growth all year. Asparagus is generally planted using crowns, which are a root system of a year-old plant grown from seed. Although a small volume of stems can be harvest the first couple of years, it doesn’t come into full production until the third year and beyond. Studies in Michigan showed that 22-23 pickings per season (about a six week harvest season) is optimal for both yield and spear size over time in the Midwest and Northeast. Asparagus is generally harvested by snapping which typically commands a high market price than cutting. 

Approximately 19,200 acres of asparagus were harvested in the U.S. in 2020.  U.S. acreage is currently only about one-third of what it was 15 years ago due to increased imports from Central and South America. Essentially all of the U.S. commercial asparagus production occurs in Michigan, California, Washington and New Jersey. The national average yield in 2020 was around 3,875 pounds per acre. In 2019, total asparagus production was 74.37 million pounds. Approximately 502.4 million pounds of fresh asparagus was imported in 2017, mostly from Mexico, Peru and Chile. The value of the 2020 utilized U.S. commercial asparagus crop was approximately $85.2 million.

Prices

In 2020, the U.S. season average farm price for asparagus was $129 per hundred weight.

Financials

Although asparagus is a perennial crop and doesn’t require replanting every year, the estimated cost of planting is about $1,500 per acre. Labor: 20–30 hours. The costs of production of asparagus production varies, however, harvest labor is the highest expense.  Based on most recent production and price averages, the estimated gross value per acre is approximately $4,200 to $6,000 per acre for wholesale and retail markets, respectively.

 

 

 

Sources

Asparagus, 2017 Summary (USDA NASS, 2021_

Vegetable and Pulses Outlook (USDA ERS, 2019)

Nutritive Value of Foods (USDA ARS, 2002)

Chicago Terminal Market Prices (USDA AMS)

National Retail Report: Fruits and Vegetables: Weekly Advertised Prices for Fruits and Vegetables at Major Retail Supermarket Outlets

Asparagus: A Small-Scale Agriculture Alternative (University of California)

Growing Asparagus (South Dakota State University)

Sample budget spreadsheet for Mature Asparagus Production (Pennsylvania State University)