Apr 16, 2019

Applewood Fresh Growers expands into asparagus

Sparta, Michigan’s Applewood Fresh Growers is expanding into fresh asparagus.

Nick Mascari, president at Applewood Fresh, said the move is part of the company’s strategic plan to diversify. Applewood is a grower, packer, shipper and marketer of 21 Michigan apple varieties with roots going back to 1935.

The asparagus season in Michigan runs about May 10-June 25. New Era’s American Asparagus is Applewood’s grower-supplier.

At American Asparagus’ packing shed, the fresh asparagus is placed in a hydrocooler immediately after harvest. The hydrocooler can quickly cool off produce using chilled water. The product is then placed in a cooler prior to packing inside a completely refrigerated packing room.

“We keep this process as short as possible to increase our customer’s shelf life & quality of the product,” said Caleb Coulter, owner of New Era’s American Asparagus.

Michigan asparagus has excellent flavor and a long shelf life. Consumers prefer locally-grown asparagus so Applewood Fresh offers new marketing tools to support the Michigan asparagus program. The eye-catching marketing material includes grower and product POS, recipes, high-resolution photos and more.

Photo: Applewood