Altar Produce Inc. continues to focus on increasing volume for its Peruvian asparagus program.

President Chris Ramirez, who visited Peru toward the end of July, took some time to talk about the company’s business and the ways in which Peruvian asparagus flesh out overall asparagus volume.

“Altar is a year-round shipper and grower of asparagus,” he told The Produce News. “We import 8.5 million boxes from Mexico and 1.5 million from Peru per year. We stop mid-Jan through mid-April [with Peruvian asparagus] only because it is overlapped with our Mexican Caborca program.”

Headquartered in Calexico, CA, the company is one of the largest importers of asparagus in the United States.

“Altar Produce is the marketing company of the largest group of asparagus producers in Mexico. Vertically integrated, we, as a group, grow, pack, ship, import and export the best quality fruits and vegetables. We represent over 50 years of expertise in the production and packing of asparagus,” the company’s website states.

The company’s founders introduced asparagus to the Mexicali desert in 1955.

In 1975, operations were moved to Caborca, the largest desert in Mexico. With the region’s favorable growing conditions, the cultivation of asparagus of dark green color, rich sweet taste and longer shelf life was possible.

Ramirez said this background has serve Altar well, especially now that plans to increase asparagus production in Peru have been implemented. Growing operations are situated in Pisco/Ica in the south and Trujillo in the north. Altar has a strong grower base, and the addition of new growers to the network is helping the company reach its benchmarks for increased Peruvian asparagus volume.

Altar specializes in traditional green asparagus but also markets limited supplies of purple and white asparagus.

Asked what can be expected from this season’s Peruvian asparagus crop in terms of quality, Ramirez said quality is expected to be “very good this year,” though he noted that El Niño weather patterns are having a definite impact on the crop.

Because Altar is involved with both the Mexican and Peruvian asparagus deals, the business is able to service customers on the West Coast with Mexican asparagus, and move its Peruvian product to the East Coast.

Anthony Leombruno, East Coast sales manager, said 80 percent of Altar’s Peruvian asparagus is moved to retail, with wholesale and foodservice splitting the balance. Third-party trucking companies are used to move less than a truckload and full loads as needed.