The asparagus market continues to be heavy, even after Easter. After the higher prices registered in early March, when there was little produce available, there was a drop that has yet to be recovered.
Asparagus before processing
Renzo Mainetti from Novafrut (at Caab, the Bologna wholesale market) explains: "I have yet to understand whether there is too much produce available or if consumption is low. The fact is that supply is higher than demand and productions from different areas are overlapping. We have asparagus from Puglia and Sardinia, from the north and from the south. Some produce was actually left over during Easter week, which was a first."
Quality is excellent and it's a real pity that people are not buying more. Everybody keeps talking about seasonal local produce but consumption remains the same and there seems to be no attention paid to what's available at a specific moment.
Asparagus at Caab (archive photo)
"We have produce from all over Italy, while abroad there is very little available. It's quite normal, especially during a year when prices aren't good even for the local produce."
"Wholesale prices vary from €1 for the smaller grades to the €2 of the bigger ones. In Cesena, prices reach €3 for extra-quality asparagus. Anyway they remain those of previous years."
"Over the years, we have asked suppliers to pay increasing attention when sorting and packaging. I can say our producers do a very good job and it's a pity not to be able to reach good prices. Asparagus must be presented in uniform bunches placed in standard crates with all the labels required."
"Over the years, we have asked suppliers to pay increasing attention when sorting and packaging. I can say our producers do a very good job and it's a pity not to be able to reach good prices. Asparagus must be presented in uniform bunches placed in standard crates with all the labels required."