“Peru has always been an excellent fit for FruVeg,” he said. “We have been importing asparagus from Peru for over 30 years and since then added grapes, murcotts, blueberries, Hass avocado, snow peas and sugar snaps peas.”

Looking back to the previous year, Espinosa revealed that FruVeg’s asparagus volume was up, even though industrywide there was less product.  “The overall crop was lower than normal, but we were able to lift our imports from previous seasons,” he said, noting that markets were stable and the overall price average for the year was excellent.

This year, Peru is expected to have more volume for the U.S. market. “There are new plants coming to the market and some of the farms from the North are making their return after a rough season post El Nino,” Espinosa said.

But like every other importer interviewed the FruVeg executive said the tariff on Peru’s fresh asparagus, and other crops, is a wild card.  “I expect the tariff will have a major impact. If Peru finds alternative markets that will provide them a higher FOB, they will divert part of their volume,” he said. “No question about it.”

Speaking of the crop itself, Espinosa reported that the month of August experienced temperatures colder than usual. “Cool weather has slowed down production for the month, but it will start making a comeback by the second or third week of September,” he said, adding that there should be promotable supplies in October and possibly continuing all the way through Thanksgiving.

The veteran asparagus marketer would like to see more U.S. retail promotions throughout the year but he explained the challenge of achieving that. “The fluctuation of availability through the course of the year makes it difficult for retailers to consistently promote,” Espinosa said. “We are working on stabilizing the volume and having consistent volume on a weekly basis.”

He doesn’t expect logistics to negatively impact the shipments through this heavy fall/winer season. “We are not expecting any supply chain issues into South Florida. Seaboard does an amazing job shipping the Peruvian asparagus into Miami,” Espinosa said. “Now, let’s please make sure we knock on wood; we do not need any hiccups. I only expect around 20-25 percent of the crop to come in via air. The vessels arrive quickly and there is only minimal loss of the cold chain.”

Turning back to FruVeg’s optimistic outlook for its continued growth in the Peruvian asparagus category, he said there are several factors informing that belief.  “FruVeg continues to increase its overall volume and partnerships with growers in Peru…planting new varieties that provides excellent quality and shelf life,” he said. “The best to be seen in 2026!”

The company offers its customers a wide range of options, including its traditional packs of 11-pound/28-pound boxes, and an eight-ounce and one-pound bag of Petit Gourmet packs. Espinosa added that Petit Gourmet tagged bunches continues to shine, and its private label business with supermarkets is also increasing.