For the 1st time, the 'International Asparagus Days' will take place within the framework of the Macfrut fair

IAD (International Asparagus Days), the event dedicated to asparagus, takes place alternately in France and Italy. This year for the first time, the International Asparagus Days are taking place in conjunction with the Macfrut 2021 trade fair. For professionals in the sector, the event offers conferences detailing the outlook as well as trends and technical visits to farms.

 

IAD (International Asparagus Days) will take place within Macfrut, from September 7 to 9, 2021 at the Rimini exhibition center. The event is coordinated by Luciano Trentini, with the technical and scientific support of Christian Befve, one of the leading experts in the sector worldwide. All aspects of the sector will be addressed: new varieties, soil preparation, management of the asparagus, harvesting asparagus (white and green), eco-compatible treatments to ensure a high quality product for the end consumer.

 

On the program, 2 days of conferences and round tables (September 7-8) on the fundamental themes of the sector, such as varietal choices in Italy and Europe and the importance of checks in the fields to identify the best cultivars. Thursday September 9 will be dedicated to technical field visits.

 

Globally, the market outlook is positive. The cultivated area is around 215,000 hectares, insufficient to meet global demand for white and green asparagus. According to projections, a total area of ​​between 270,000 and 280,000 hectares would be needed to meet global demand for asparagus. The largest producer in the world is China, with an area of ​​93,000 hectares, followed by Mexico (29,000 hectares) and Peru (22,000 hectares).

 

In Italy, asparagus production covers an area of ​​around 9,500 hectares; the Puglia region represents 50% of the total surface area, the Veneto region 21% and the Emilia Romagna region around 8%. From a commercial point of view, the trend is positive given the increase in demand for all types of asparagus, green, white and purple. In 2020 the closure of the HoReCa sector resulted in a reduction in the consumption of asparagus, but the mass distribution and export sectors allowed for almost normal sales.