PERU – Peruvian asparagus exporters will be shipping ocean containers to Philadelphia following a successful meeting with industry leaders at the Global Produce & Floral Show in Anaheim.
Currently, the majority of Peruvian cargo still goes to Miami, and it will likely continue to do so for a specific market in the southeast, as stated by Miriam Borja, Senior Business Development Manager at Western Fumigation.
“But for the portion of asparagus that is intended for the northern market, it makes sense to transport it to northern ports,” she announced.
Borja further explained that Philadelphia is the best fit for the vegetables, considering the seamless supply chain and logistics in the Northern Ports.
“If we can provide you with excellent service, free from any delays or hiccups, why wouldn’t you want to give it a try?” she asked rhetorically.
According to a report by the Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association (PAIA), in 2022, approximately 580 million pounds of fresh asparagus were imported into the United States, with Peru accounting for 214 million pounds. This represents about 37% of the total.
In 2021, the U.S. market imported approximately 665 million pounds, with Peru capturing a 34% market share, equivalent to 225 million pounds.
According to the report, while overall imported asparagus sales in the United States decreased by 13% in 2022, the decline for asparagus from Peru was only 5%. This resulted in an increase in its market share for imports.
The report lists key purchasing trends for fresh asparagus and notes that households without children are significantly more likely to buy the product compared to those with children.
Approximately 28% of households without children purchase asparagus, compared to 22 percent of households with children.
Another key trend concerns the age of the product’s purchasers. As one ages, the likelihood continues to increase. Only 18% of consumers in the 18-29 age group purchase asparagus, compared to 33% of those who are 60 or older.
Ethnicity is another differentiating factor. A significant 45% of Asian shoppers prefer to purchase asparagus. No other ethnic group comes close to that figure, with Caucasians coming in a distant second at 27%.
The likelihood of purchase also increases based on household income. About 31% of consumers who report an income of more than USD 100,000 purchase asparagus, while only 20% of those who make less than USD 25,000 per year are buyers of the relatively expensive vegetable.
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