The Peruvian Asparagus Importer’s Association has new co-chairman for 2024-25: Carlos Solf of Southern Specialties for the East Coast Chair and Craig Rolandelli of Jacobs Malcolm & Burtt for the West Coast Chair.

“PAIA Co-Chairmen help guide the association in our efforts to advance the asparagus trade industry and progress the entire asparagus category as a whole,” said Priscilla Lleras, executive director for the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association.

SugarBee harvest has arrived earlier than expected this year. An early cold snap pushed the much-anticipated fall harvest up by about a week and a half, which means that SugarBee apples are arriving in stores near you sooner than ever.

Summing up industry veteran Tracy Wood’s take on this fall’s Peruvian asparagus deal, uncertainty appears to be the best characterization.

An unfamiliar archaic word for asparagus was called “sparrow grass,” which originates in maritime coastal habitats. Asparagus was once known in English as “sperage,” which was derived from Medieval Latin “sparagus.”

Though imported asparagus sales in the United States dropped off by 13 percent in 2022, asparagus from Peru only declined 5 percent, effectively increasing its import market share by a few percentage points.

So far, the Peruvian asparagus deal has been a challenge with much less volume than a year ago, but that hasn’t stopped U.S. importer Ayco Farms from moving forward on one of its key initiatives: value-added options.

“Ayco is focusing on more packaging for retailers especially with our asparagus,” said Shani Nir, who handles marketing for the Pompano Beach, FL-based company. “We offer anything from bulk packaging to private label packaging. Our packaging includes tray packs, pouch bags, and flow pack bags.”