Articles
Comparison of asparagus marketing in Japan and six European countries during the peak harvest season
Article number
1376_31
Pages
225 – 232
Language
English
Abstract
Asparagus is produced in many countries of the world.
According to the spear color, it is categorized into green, purple, and white asparagus.
In this study, we conducted an asparagus market research from April to June as the peak harvest season for asparagus, involving supermarkets and agricultural markets in Germany (the worlds 4th largest asparagus producing country in 2019), Spain (the 5th largest), Italy (the 6th largest), Japan (the 8th largest), France (the 10th largest), the Netherlands (the 12th largest), and the UK (the 20th largest) to compare: the color of spears, the form of sales (fresh, canned, bottled, frozen, or soup), and the number of countries of origin.
By comparing these items in supermarkets among the countries, the green to white asparagus ratio were the highest in the UK, Japan, and Italy, accounting for 75, 43, and 34% of the total production, respectively.
In France, Germany, and Spain, the rates of white and bottled asparagus were the highest, accounting for 57, 42, and 41% of the total production, respectively.
The number of countries of origin in supermarkets was 6 in France and Germany, 4 in Spain and Japan, 3 in the UK and the Netherlands, and 2 in Italy.
The differences in the color of spears, the form of sales, and the number of countries of origin may be representing consumers preferences, as well as their status of retail food store and wholesale fruit and vegetable market use, in each country.
According to the spear color, it is categorized into green, purple, and white asparagus.
In this study, we conducted an asparagus market research from April to June as the peak harvest season for asparagus, involving supermarkets and agricultural markets in Germany (the worlds 4th largest asparagus producing country in 2019), Spain (the 5th largest), Italy (the 6th largest), Japan (the 8th largest), France (the 10th largest), the Netherlands (the 12th largest), and the UK (the 20th largest) to compare: the color of spears, the form of sales (fresh, canned, bottled, frozen, or soup), and the number of countries of origin.
By comparing these items in supermarkets among the countries, the green to white asparagus ratio were the highest in the UK, Japan, and Italy, accounting for 75, 43, and 34% of the total production, respectively.
In France, Germany, and Spain, the rates of white and bottled asparagus were the highest, accounting for 57, 42, and 41% of the total production, respectively.
The number of countries of origin in supermarkets was 6 in France and Germany, 4 in Spain and Japan, 3 in the UK and the Netherlands, and 2 in Italy.
The differences in the color of spears, the form of sales, and the number of countries of origin may be representing consumers preferences, as well as their status of retail food store and wholesale fruit and vegetable market use, in each country.
Publication
Authors
S. Yamashita, T. Taguchi, A. Kato, S. Motoki
Keywords
agricultural market, Asparagus officinalis L., export, import, market research, spear, supermarket
Groups involved
Online Articles (34)