Mother Nature has been kind to asparagus growers this year. A mild winter has concluded with a cold snap that has provided just enough chill hours to ensure dormant asparagus beds prior to the growing season.
"Warm weather is bringing forth some of the best-looking asparagus we've seen in years" said Marc Marchini of AM Farms in Stockton. "We're seeing the uniform size, height and color that Buyer's expect from California shippers". Production is expected to ramp-up through March, with ample supplies expected to support aggressive Easter retail features.
Cherie Watte, Executive Director of the California Asparagus Commission, confirmed that a number of new elements have been added to the asparagus sales support program this year. "For the third year in a row, Bon Appetit magazine has reported that an annual survey of food shoppers has re-confirmed that 'asparagus is America's favorite side dish'. We know that shoppers will buy asparagus if we give retailers the support they need to call attention to our asparagus display. New POP cards and a full-color recipe booklet have been produced to help expand trial an increase usage." Quantities of these materials can be acquired by contacting the California Asparagus Commission at (209) 474-7581. They can also be ordered through the Commission's web site (www.calasparagus.com). She adds that full-color recipe releases to newspapers and magazines in the U.S. and Canada, as well as a national flight of in-store radio on the News America network, will remind shoppers to look for California asparagus in their favorite stores.
Cherie added that "it is too early to make volume projections but if everything continues as it has to date, we should be able to send a very nice crop to our buying partners."
INDUSTRY VOTES TO CONTINUE THE
CALIFORNIA ASPARAGUS COMMISSION
Press Release
Thursday, October 12, 2000
STOCKTON - The California Asparagus Commission (CAC) announces the continuation of the Commission as a result of an overwhelmingly favorable vote by the California asparagus industry. In a continuation referendum conducted last month by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), 88% of voting members approved continuation of the program. The favorable vote extends the marketing order through December 31, 2005.
California Asparagus Commission Chairman Bill Zech responded to the vote by stating, "I am pleased an overwhelming majority of the industry supports the Commission's activities. The vote is a clear mandate from the growers that the Commission should continue its current direction in the areas of research, market development, and policy. "
CAC Executive Director Cherie Watte comments, "the tremendous grower support for the commission is encouraging during a very difficult time in agriculture. I look forward to working with the industry to improve domestic and international markets for California fresh asparagus."
California Asparagus Commission Law, Chapter 21, Division 22 of the Food and Agriculture Code mandates that a continuation referendum be held every five year. The continuation referendum was conducted September 1 through September 30, 2000. For the Commission to continue, a majority of the eligible asparagus producers voting in the referendum must vote in favor of continuation.
The commission, created in 1990 to represent the interest of the state's asparagus industry, continues to advocate on the industry's behalf. The commission oversees a variety of programs for the state's asparagus growers including sales promotions, consumer education and research. All California asparagus growers, with the exception of those south of the Tehachapi Mountains, pay assessments to fund Commission activities.
California leads the nation in the production of fresh asparagus. California Asparagus Commission growers account for nearly 45% of the nation's asparagus production and approximately 85% of the nation's fresh asparagus production. CDFA reported a value of $126,024,000 for statewide asparagus production in 1998. Commission members generally begin harvesting quality fresh asparagus in mid-February of each year and conclude their season at the end of September. For more information regarding the California Asparagus Commission contact Ms. Cherie Watte, Executive Director at (209) 474-7481. calasparagus@aol.com. |
