New Zealand’s asparagus growers are looking ahead to the coming season after a solid finish to the last harvest, with steady demand giving the industry confidence despite ongoing pressure from rising costs. Matt Falloon of Aspara Pacific Ltd says growers are already preparing for spring, with favourable winter conditions helping set the crop up well.
© Aspara Pacific
“The season was pretty good overall,” Falloon says. “It wasn’t perfect, but we were happy with how it finished. Demand stayed fairly steady, and we were able to move the crop well through the domestic market.”
While the season began cautiously, conditions improved as harvest progressed.
“It started a little slower than we’d hoped, but it came right as we got further into the season,” he says. “Overall, we’d say it was a successful harvest.”
Attention has now turned to preparing for the next crop, with growers carrying out the winter work that will influence yields later in the year.
© Aspara Pacific
“At this time of year we’re getting everything ready for spring,” Falloon says. “That’s where our focus is now. Hopefully, the conditions stay favourable, and we can set ourselves up for another good harvest.”
Although weather always plays a role, he says the industry is optimistic. “You never know exactly what the season’s going to bring, but at this stage things are looking positive.”
Demand for fresh New Zealand asparagus has remained reliable, with domestic consumers continuing to support locally grown produce throughout the season.
“We’re fortunate that people still enjoy buying fresh asparagus when it’s available,” Falloon says. “The domestic market has always been important to us.”
© Aspara Pacific
While New Zealand asparagus has previously found markets overseas, exports remain limited for economic rather than production reasons. “The biggest issue is really freight,” he says. “Fresh asparagus has a relatively short shelf life, so realistically it has to travel by air.”
That creates a significant cost challenge. “Once you add the cost of air freight, it becomes very difficult to compete in overseas markets,” Falloon says. “The economics just don’t really stack up at the moment.”
Instead, growers continue to focus on supplying New Zealand consumers with fresh product throughout the season.
“Our emphasis is on producing a really good product for the local market,” he says. “That’s where the opportunity is.”
Looking ahead, Falloon expects another steady season provided growing conditions remain favourable through spring.
“We’re optimistic,” he says. “There’s still a long way to go before harvest starts, but everything we’re doing now is about giving ourselves the best possible chance.”
He says the industry’s focus remains straightforward. “You want consistent quality and reliable production every year. That’s what growers are always working towards.”
Even with the season some distance in the future, there’s no rest for Aspara. “We no longer get much of a downtime from asparagus. Since we run a breeding program for our own varieties, which also involves seed production and sales (both domestically and internationally), as well as growing and harvesting high-health crowns for the domestic market, there is actually very little time during the year that is not focused on asparagus in one form or the other. The focus of the breeding program has always been on varieties with superior spear quality to allow for easy selling in the fresh market.”
Despite the challenges facing horticulture more broadly, Falloon believes asparagus growers remain well positioned by concentrating on quality and careful management.
“We’ll keep doing what we’ve always done,” he says. “Grow the best crop we can, look after it properly and make sure consumers are getting fresh, high-quality New Zealand asparagus.”
For more information:
Matthew Falloon
Aspara Pacific Ltd.
https://www.asparapacific.co.nz/
[email protected]