This week, our delicious alpine asparagus, grown at the foot of the Southern Alps, hits the supermarket shelves.
Asparagus is a temperature-dependent vegetable and warmer day temperatures, and sunlight helps it grow.
The southern asparagus is slightly behind the northern growers due to this year’s cold and wet spring which has delayed the season for a couple of weeks due to lower soil temperatures.
However, it’s great news for foodies as our asparagus will be available for Christmas.
Our South Island Manager, Mike Arnold, says that Kiwis have a soft spot for asparagus, and they tend to munch their way through thousands of tonnes nationwide.
“Foodies don’t need much encouragement to grab a bunch of the green spears but if you need a couple more reasons, we have plenty!
“Our Southern spears are sweeter and juicer thanks to the cooler overnight temperatures which helps to lock-in the sugars and flavour, it also creates that lovely green colour in our spears.
“The warmer temperature in the day helps the spears literally grow right before your eyes – up to 17 centimeters in a day. It means we have a dedicated harvest team throughout the spring to pick most days. If it’s too hot, the spears can go seedy quickly,” he says.
“Asparagus are a nutrient ninja, packed full of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. It helps boost your immune system, aids digestion, is a natural diuretic but most of all it is delicious to eat which makes you happy when you eat them. What more can you ask for?!” says Mike.
Fresh, local asparagus is a fleeting pleasure, so make the most of it whilst you can.
“Asparagus is best eaten fresh and requires little fuss to eat. Either barbecued, pan fried or slightly boiled, they can accompany any meal – or you can cut or grate them into a salad or pasta dish. The options are endless,” he says.
Carmel Ireland from the 5+ A Day Charitable Trust agrees that asparagus is one of spring’s best nutrient powerhouses for optimum health.
“Asparagus is a good source of folate, prebiotics, and a source of a host of vitamins like niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, and C. It’s a vegetable that supports heart and gut health, blood pressure, and helps support a healthy immune system. The spears are also easy to add to any meal, making it even easier to add one more vegetable to your daily diet,” she says.
To keep your asparagus fresh at home, store them refrigerated with the ends wrapped in wet paper towels or standing up in a glass of water like flowers in a vase.
Our asparagus bunches are in stores now until the end of December. Some of our slightly bent spears from wind and weather will also pop up in the Wonky Box and the Odd Bunch.