Froerer Farms sees longest asparagus season in 20 years
Froerer Farms sees longest asparagus season in 20 years
Nyssa, OR-based Froerer Farms saw its longest asparagus-growing in the 20 years the family operation has been growing that crop.
According to Craig Froerer, farm manager, the last two decades has had an average of 40 packing days, but in 2015 Owyhee Produce, the packing arm of the operation, fresh-packed for 57 days.
Froerer Farms in Nyssa, OR, saw its longest asparagus-packing season in the 20 years it’s been growing that commodity. (Photo courtesy of Froerer Farms)
Froerer said, “The crop started earlier because of warmer weather. The youngest fields are in their fourth year and were heavily picked this year. In three years they will be in full production. Over the next the years the asparagus’ health and maturity will improve.”
Packing Manager Robin Froerer said as asparagus trends upward production issues will also increase.
“I equate asparagus to a lot of hard work,” she said, noting that approximately 100 field workers harvested more than 140 acres twice a day, and for the first time during asparagus season Froerer Farms faced a labor shortage in both picking and packing.
Despite the challenges, however, a merger between Owyhee Produce and IDA Spear has flourished. The partnership came about in January 2015, resulting in a combined customer base, better customer and product support and more staff to take customer calls and arrange for shipping.
Froerer Farms asparagus was shipped coast to coast and also distributed locally and regionally.
Robin Froerer said community support for the farm has been outstanding, and she said Froerer is happy to give back to the area through local food banks, organizations such as Meals on Wheels and the Western Idaho Community Action Partnership Incorporated.
