Swiss vegetable growers have greatly expanded asparagus cultivation in recent years and thus increased the supply of Swiss asparagus. Over the last 20 years, the acreage for white asparagus has quadrupled, and for green asparagus tripled. Asparagus is grown by around 180 local producers, most of whom are located in eastern Switzerland, followed by the Swiss Plateau and Western Switzerland.
But even though asparagus production in Switzerland has increased, a lot of asparagus is still imported. In 2024, imports of white asparagus amounted to around 3,600 tons, while imports of green asparagus even reached 5,700 tons. The consumption of green and white asparagus, including imports, is around 1 kilogram per capita in Switzerland.
Further growth potential
Asparagus cultivation requires significant effort: investment costs are high, and the harvest only comes after a delay, and only for a good two months each year. "Asparagus is grown in the same location – that is, in the same field – for about ten years and can only be harvested from the third year onwards," explains Markus Waber, Deputy Director of the Association of Swiss Vegetable Producers (VSGP). This long-term investment requires patience and know-how.
And growing asparagus is labor-intensive: from building the characteristic mounds, to covering them with foil, to harvesting them every day. Even after harvesting, the asparagus field needs to be cared for to keep the plants healthy. "Before a company decides to start growing asparagus, it has to ask itself the following questions: Am I interested in the crop? Do I have the sales channel? Do I have the operational infrastructure, the suitable fields, and the personnel?" says Waber. "Asparagus is very popular with consumers and, in contrast to imports, there is not enough Swiss produce, so there is potential. The domestic produce is holding its own well and is in high demand."
Source: lid