He continued: “With the reduced volume, we expect to see an increase in air shipments, particularly in September and December,” he said. “Our mix of air and ocean shipments will be similar to last year with a few more mid-week air shipments as needed to supplement reduced container shipments.”
Wood also stated that growers in Peru are currently gearing up production and opening new fields as winter turns to spring in the Southern Hemisphere. “Harvest for the ‘big season’ will begin over the next few weeks,” he said. “We are expecting promotable supplies by the first or second week of October.”
He revealed that for the Lange company, Peru represents about 50 percent of its annual asparagus supplies with the other 50 percent coming from Mexico.
As noted, weather has been a major factor in decreased supplies. Wood said the greatest impact was experienced in Northern Peru in 2023 with production acreage, volume, and yields affected significantly.
While Wood expects promotional volume to be available from mid-October through mid-December, he said the jury is still out on what will happen later in the season. “There is still a question mark on production and volumes available mid-December through January,” he revealed.
The lower asparagus volume has had a positive impact on logistics. “Currently we are not expecting any interruptions on receiving Peru asparagus into and transporting across the U.S.,” he said, noting that the shipments by air will occur in specific time frames. “Regarding air shipments, we expect an increase to help supplement reduced container volumes in September, December and January.”