Disappointing summer weather won’t hinder Australian asparagus plans

A wet summer has not dampened the spirits of Australia’s asparagus growers, as the industry sets its sights on reducing reliance on imported asparagus to supply major supermarkets year round.

The Australian asparagus harvest over recent years has shown Joe Vizzarri, President of the Australian Asparagus Council (AAC) and one of Australia’s largest growers, that asparagus could have a bigger share of the Australian market. “We’ve spent three or four years doing imports when local supplies are low, and that’s shown me that there’s plenty more room to grow asparagus production within Australia. I supply all the major supermarkets in Australia. There just isn’t enough for all of them,” he says.

Growing the current asparagus crop, once viewed as ‘luxury’ by consumers, was hindered by the wet weather experienced in key harvest areas, such as Koo Wee Rup, about 63km south-east of Melbourne, Victoria where around 93% of Australia’s asparagus comes from.

“We’re currently producing about 50 tonnes per week locally. In the scheme of things, that’s very little. Last year I only did a couple of hundred tonnes. It’s about building up numbers after the previous wet years,” adds Mr Vizzarri.

Asparagus crops in the Koo Wee Rup region were recently ‘decimated’ by very wet seasons, but the previous two summers have been drier, and that’s helped, according to Mr Vizzarri.

“Traditionally we have had limited supplies of Australian asparagus over the Christmas period so I set up a new farm in Red Cliffs, Mildura, planting a couple of hundred acres. We’re putting a lot of work in and hope to be producing around 200 tonnes per week.”

Other areas earmarked for expansion include Bourke and Carnarvon in Western Australia, areas where conditions are more like summer all year long.Since the main Spring production period finished, around Christmas time, Mr Vizzarri says 3500 tonnes of asparagus has been produced. There are probably 500 or 600 tonnes to come this summer, and next summer that is expected to double. As for export potential for asparagus, Mr Vizzarri says this is something he ‘may look at more closely’ next year, especially exporting to Singapore or Hong Kong, provided there is sufficient volume.

According to the AAC, over the last decade asparagus consumption has increased from around 150 grams per person to over 400 grams per person per year and there is plenty of scope to increase this. Asparagus was once considered a special occasion ‘gourmet’ vegetable but consumers are now including it more and more in everyday family meals. The industry has encouraged this through its marketing campaigns and other initiatives such as working with supermarkets to create more ‘ready to eat’ and long life asparagus bags for sale.

For more information:
Joe Vizzarri
Australian Asparagus Council
Email: joe@vizzarri.com.au
Mobile: +61 419 367246