While last year the start of the green asparagus season was delayed to late March due to the weather conditions, this year the first asparagus were harvested in late February. "The 2013 green asparagus season was delayed and supply volumes concentrated right after the Easter holidays; consequently, after reaching record-breaking levels, prices dropped," said Francisco Antonio Zamora, president of Centro Sur S.C.A.
However, "we believe that the season this year will be better than the previous one and we expect more stable volumes. Our activities started at the usual time of the year, and although a slowdown in production was registered over the past two weeks due to Granada's low temperatures, the weather is now expected to warm up and remain so in the coming weeks, when supply will normalise, taking advantage of the usual increase in demand of the Easter holidays," he says.
"Right now, calibres are quite thick and will gradually reduce in size as the campaign develops. This is due to the fact that with increasing temperatures, asparagus grow faster, reaching growing speeds of up to a centimetre per hour," he explains.
Based in Huétor Tájar, Granada, Centro Sur owns about 550 hectares distributed all over Andalusia devoted to the production of green asparagus. The produce is packaged for both fresh and canned consumption at the company's two warehouses. During the off-season, produce is imported from Peru and Mexico.
Antonio F. Zamora points out that 60% of the company's production is intended for export to European markets, while the remaining 40% is distributed in the domestic market. "Germany is our main export destination, followed by Switzerland, where the thick calibres are most demanded. The Italian and French markets are also noteworthy, although these are also major asparagus producers."
"Italy, for example, usually starts producing green asparagus between 35 and 40 days later than Granada, although this year they have also been able to advance the harvest. Therefore, for a month and a half we have the chance to make larger shipments to Italy until their production volumes reach significant levels. France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany also grow their own produce, although not enough to cover their domestic demand," says the president of the company.
Centro Sur markets its green asparagus under the labels TAXARA and GSURCA, while for its wild asparagus the brand used is THE MONTEROS. Packaging formats range from bulk boxes and bundles to plastic containers where either whole asparagus or just the tips can be presented. In any case, Antonio F. Zamora assures that "we adapt to the packaging needs of every client."
Contact information:
Antonio Francisco Zamora Sánchez
Centro Sur S.C.A
Ctra de la Estación, s/n.
18360 Huétor Tájar, Granada. Spain
T: +34 958332020
M: +34 626341437
presidente@centro-sur.es
www.centro-sur.es
Antonio Francisco Zamora Sánchez
Centro Sur S.C.A
Ctra de la Estación, s/n.
18360 Huétor Tájar, Granada. Spain
T: +34 958332020
M: +34 626341437
presidente@centro-sur.es
www.centro-sur.es