ASPARAGUS AND OTHER VEGETABLES
Michigan vegetable producers grew over 827,040 tons of fresh market and processing
vegetables in 1996. That makes our state 10th nationally in all vegetable
production. We rank as the number one producer of cucumbers for pickles, second for
carrots for fresh market and celery.
Michigan ranks third in the nation in asparagus production producing up to 25 million
pounds annually. Oceana County, around Hart and Shelby, is the area with the
greatest volume of production but there is also substantial production in SW Michigan
between South Haven and Benton Harbor. Michigan growers harvest approximately 16,500
acres of asparagus annually. The average yield for Michigan asparagus growers is
1700 pounds per acre but plantings of newer hybrid varieties have been harvested at up to
3000 pounds per acre. About 15% of the harvest is sold as fresh asparagus in the
vegetable section of the grocery store or at a roadside market. Of the 85% of the
crop sold to processors, 35% will be frozen as cuts & tips or spears and 65% will be
canned as cuts & tips or spears. The total annual value of the Michigan
asparagus crop is between $20,000,000-25,000,000.
This image shows a field of asparagus in fall, after it has gone dormant.
Source:
Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan State University
Asparagus spears grow from a crown that is planted about a foot deep in sandy soils, which
Michigan has plenty of! Under ideal conditions, an asparagus spear can grow 10"
in a 24-hour period. Each crown will send spears up for about 6-7 weeks during the
spring and early summer. The outdoor temperature determines how much time will be
between each picking...early in the season, there may be 4-5 days between pickings and as
the days and nights get warmer, a particular field may have to be picked every 24 hours.
After harvesting is done the spears grow into ferns, which produce red berries and the
food and nutrients necessary for a healthy and productive crop the next season. An
asparagus planting is usually not harvested for the first 3 years after the crowns are
planted allowing the crown to develop a strong fibrous root system. A well cared for
asparagus planting will generally produce for about 15 years without being replanted.
The larger the diameter, the better the quality! Asparagus is a
nutrient-dense food which in high in Folic Acid and is a good source of potassium, fiber,
vitamin B6, vitamins A and C, and thiamin.
The long green asparagus stalks are one of Michigan's first crops to appear in the spring.
Its growing season is brief, beginning in late April and ending in June, ranking Michigan
third in the nation for asparagus production. Although 85-90% of the crop is processed,
the proportion eaten fresh is increasing.
Asparagus is one of the best vegetables for supplying nutrients and
fiber. With 20 calories per five-ounce serving, asparagus spears contain no cholesterol,
are low in sodium, and provide potassium, fiber, and vitamins A, C, B6 and B9. When buying
asparagus, look for firm, fresh spears with closed, compact tips of uniform diameter. This
allows for even cooking with little variation in consistency.
This material has been compiled for educational use only, and may not be reproduced without permission. One copy may be printed for personal use. Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) for more information or permissions.