Asparagus Continued from Page 7 Durst said he keeps growing aspara- gus for a simple reason: He has all the equipment and the packaging for it, so it makes sense to continue. Also, he is banking on an improving market and said he doesn’t want to start all over should demand for locally grown as- paragus rise. “Who knows how the world is going to change in the next few years,” he said. In Firebaugh, Fresno County, A-Bar Ag Enterprises started harvesting aspara- gus about three weeks later than usual this year and is cutting every day, said co-owner Jake Barcellos. A-Bar Ag has been growing asparagus for about 12 years. While Barcellos is also wary of competition from farms in Mexico with lower labor costs, he is bullish on the caliber of local asparagus and touts it as California grown in his marketing. “Our quality is what we hang our hat on,” Barcellos said. Like Durst Organic Growers, A-Bar Ag dedicates a small amount, about 5 acres of its 226 asparagus acres to a purple va- riety. For now, Barcellos said, it remains a variety with niche demand for customers. Generally, A-Bar Ag annually fills about 250 28-pound boxes of asparagus per acre from a mature field. The ranch has one younger field generating about 150 boxes of the same weight.
Jake Barcellos of A-Bar Ag Enterprises, examines asparagus harvested in Firebaugh. In the face of competition from Mexico, he relies on the market appeal of California- grown asparagus.
biggest asparagus-producing region in the state. “If that doesn’t sound ridiculous, it is,” Smith said, noting that 25 years ago San Joaquin County was the county flourish- ing with asparagus fields. Beyond water issues and the weather, Smith said thrips are the largest chal- lenge when growing asparagus. As the
weather warms, thrips can come out. “They don’t contaminate it, but they do scar the shaft,” he said, “and it looks terrible.” Smith agrees it is reasonable to plant purple asparagus, and Turlock Fruit pro- duces a very limited amount. (Nancy Vigran is a reporter based in Placer County. She may be contacted via news@cfbf.com.)
Just how long the operation will keep harvesting depends upon the demand, the box count per acre and whether heat causes the asparagus to fern out, dimin- ishing quality. A-Bar Ag partners with Turlock Fruit Co. in the asparagus business. Don Smith, owner of the packer and market- er, said Fresno County has become the
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2023 Health & Safety on the Farm and Ranch
California Farm Bureau is pleased to offer this year-long program of training sessions presented by Nationwide. Select topics will be presented in both English and Spanish. Members, enjoy access to free classes! Register for the upcoming training webinars. Trainings will be presented via Zoom. The Hazardous Agricultural Materials (HAM) training must be attended in person at a participating County Farm Bureau office or at the California Farm Bureau office in Sacramento. For a list of class dates and to register, visit cfbf.com/FBE or call (800) 698-FARM for assistance. You will receive a Zoom link and details two days prior to your selected webinar date.
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8 Ag Alert May 3, 2023
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