Extreme temperatures in recent weeks have taken a toll on the region’s asparagus crop, but growers are fighting back and there should not be any shortages of the vegetable in shops.
The Kooweerup-Dalmore region produces 93 per cent of Australia’s asparagus.
The main crop is from mid-August to mid-December and is locally grown.
The summer crop, from mid-January to late March, is a mixture of local and imported spears.
President of the Australian Asparagus Council and Kooweerup grower, Joe Vizzarri said floods in the last two years had cost the region’s industry dearly.
“We’ve had to completely replant in a lot of cases,” Mr Vizzarri said.
“Those plants will take three years to mature.
“This, coupled with the intense heat we are now getting, has meant we have had to import some of the asparagus now in shops.”
Most of the imported stock is coming from Mexico.
“There’s no loss of quality or freshness,” he said.
“The aim is to get our own paddocks back into full production as soon as possible, but by supervising the imported stock the way we do, we can guarantee quality until that time arrives.”
Mr Vizzarri said the demand for asparagus was growing steadily.
“It’s now strong year-round,” he said.
“Asparagus is a very fast growing vegetable at any time, but in optimum conditions spears can grow 1-2cm in an hour.”
“But when the temperature soars, the tender spears can actually cook in the field.
“That’s why we harvest in the cool of the night.”
Source - http://www.heraldsun.com.au/
