This year, Rosemont Farms, which is a C.H. Robinson company, added club packs of Peruvian asparagus to its product line, as well as the offering of 12-ounce bags. This is in addition to the traditional one-pound bag.

Walter Hoffmann, sourcing representative for the firm, said these additions accommodate a variety of price points. He added that “while bagging asparagus has been instrumental in increasing the shelf life of the product, some retail clients have had sales success in selling and displaying banded asparagus as it allows consumers to enjoy a sensory shopping experience. Offering customers innovative packaging options in order to meet their needs is one of the most important factors in today’s rapidly changing marketplace.”

Sticking with the same theme, Hoffman said offering options when promoting the product is also a good idea. “Certainly, leading up to and during holiday periods are great times to promote asparagus,” he said, “but the category can absolutely be promoted during other times of the year. For example, Peruvian asparagus can easily be promoted from mid-September through October, and Mexican asparagus is typically available in February and March.”

He added that Peruvian asparagus, which is the dominant production area shipping into the North American market, is available year-round, “making it possible to promote the product at any time throughout the year.”

Hoffman prefers the use of big retail promotions — both via media and in store displays — to move a lot of this popular vegetable. “In terms of volume and sales boost, C.H. Robinson has found that placing front page ads or presenting promotional displays at the entrance of retail stores has been a very effective merchandising technique.”

The company is also a proponent of cross merchandising, as he said that is another way to boost visibility and sales. For example, he said, featuring asparagus with certain cuts of meat during the grilling season is a great tie-in opportunity. “In-store demos are another good way to feature the commodity for consumers who may be unsure about the various preparation methods and cooking options,” he added.

For C.H. Robinson, Peruvian asparagus is an important part of its product mix. “Peruvian asparagus represents 48 percent of all fresh asparagus consumed in the U.S., thus this is a very high-volume product,” Hoffman said. “Rosemont Farms, now C.H. Robinson, has been importing asparagus for over a decade. Retailers understand its demand in the marketplace and the value that this item adds to their produce selection.”