After obtaining the protected geographical indication in the EU in 2024, this will be the first season in which the green asparagus from the Spanish province of Guadalajara will be marketed under this quality seal that confirms the product's origin and authenticity and accredits its superior quality.
"We are very excited about this new season, in which we will be selling our asparagus under the PGI Espárragos de Guadalajara label, even though the weather has forced us to delay the start of the campaign," says Adolfo López, President of the Green Asparagus Producers' Association of Guadalajara. "All our asparagus is grown in the open ground and, due to the rains and cold weather, we are only now starting with the harvest. Despite this, we are still expecting a good season in terms of volume, with around 2.5 million kilos, and with the quality that our asparagus always has, thanks to the temperatures in the area, which allow the shoots to grow more slowly and become very tasty and firm."
The cultivation of green asparagus started some 40 years ago in this traditionally cereal-growing land and was an interesting step towards diversification in Guadalajara. "The production reached its peak in the 2018-19 campaign, when more than a thousand hectares were in production. The acreage has since declined due to all the difficulties that both the crop and agriculture in general throughout Europe are facing due to the lack of labor. Asparagus is a very labor-intensive crop, and there are fewer and fewer workers available for harvesting tasks, to the point that, at the moment, the cultivated acreage amounts to just around 600 hectares," says Adolfo.
"However, obtaining the PGI has given us renewed hope. It could be a turning point and help the crop grow again, because every year we see very interesting demand for our asparagus in European markets."
Approximately 50% of Guadalajara's green asparagus goes to European export markets. "Having our crops between 650 and 800 meters above sea level allows us to start later than other growing areas in Spain, such as Granada, and our cycle is more similar to that of Central Europe. While Granada usually stops producing asparagus at the end of May, we can continue until the end of June, and in some seasons, we can even reach July with excellent quality thanks to this area's cool temperatures," says Adolfo López.
"We are facing many problems: labor shortages, issues with generational takeover, etc. But despite these problems, common to any horticultural product and any region in Europe, we have a product with attractive prices and which will be more easily marketable thanks to the recognition of its quality on a European level."
"Moreover, wholesalers both in Spain and in the rest of Europe are already aware of the qualities of our product, and when we start marketing, they are interested in working with the Guadalajara origin, and there is great demand. In fact, this year, although the weather has delayed our start, we are receiving daily calls from importers who are anxious for us to start harvesting."
For more information:
Green Asparagus Producers' Association of Guadalajara
[email protected]