Tim Ryan Sr., who is president of the Sunrise, FL-based company, noted that the importer is on track to increase imports of Peruvian asparagus for the 2025-26 season. “We anticipate higher overall volumes compared to last year, though we recognize that some short supply gaps may occur given ongoing production and market volatility,” he said. “Peru continues to play a vital role in our program, anchoring consistent supply, and helping us deliver 52-week availability for our retail partners.”

Ryan recalled that the 2024-25 season brought lower-than-anticipated volume for much of the year, which limited opportunities for consistent promotions. “While supply was adequate to meet demand, retailers had fewer chances to build momentum around the category,” he said, explaining that it is a different situation this season. “We expect promotable supplies from mid-September through early December, with peak volumes aligning with the October–November promotional window.”

But this season does have its own unique challenges. “Tariffs remain a major concern, as any additional duties would add cost across the supply chain and could slow promotional activity,” he said. “That said, Peru remains essential to the U.S. market, and we are confident the trade will adapt to maintain continuity of supply.”

The asparagus industry veteran would like to see an increase in retail support for the Peruvian product in the coming months.  “Promotional activity has been inconsistent, often reflecting broader market dynamics,” he said. “We see a real opportunity for retailers to lean in more aggressively this fall. With ample supply expected from October through December 2025, we anticipate stronger retail promotions during this critical window.”

One important area that does not seem to be of major concern this year is the logistics piece. “We don’t anticipate major logistical challenges this year,” Ryan said. “Ocean freight has stabilized compared to the disruptions of recent years, and we have solid partnerships in place. Air freight will still play a role in moving product quickly during promotional peak; we expect around 10–15 percent of the crop to move by air.”

He explained that the majority of the Peruvian product moves by ocean for cost efficiency, with air freight being used strategically to maintain inventory balance, protect freshness and support promotional opportunities.

Square One Farms focuses on green asparagus and is also a supplier of organic asparagus, but not from Peru as the required fumigation protocol by the USDA makes that impossible. “Organic asparagus sales have grown significantly for SQ1 over the last three years,” Ryan said. “We are monitoring discussions around a USDA systems approach (for Peruvian imports), but so far, there hasn’t been meaningful movement toward implementation. We would welcome progress on this front as it would help stabilize supply.”

He added that while the company focuses on green asparagus, white and purple continue to be available in smaller, niche volumes.