As one of the leading importers of asparagus, Southern Specialties continues to add volume and distribution facilities.

“We continue to expand our asparagus programs, offering year round supplies from major growing areas,” said Carlos Solf, vice president of procurement for the Pompano Beach, FL-based company. “We ship from Pompano Beach (FL), McAllen (TX), Arizona and Michigan depending on seasonality. Asparagus is offered in a variety of presentations, as part of our Southern Selects value-added lineup of specialty products.”

The weather-related decrease in available supplies of Peruvian asparagus should mean an increase in air shipments, according to Lange Farms-Florida Vice President of Sales Tracy Wood.

It’s another good day for customs broker Frank Ramos, who founded The Perishable Specialist with his wife, Anna, about 24 years ago in South Florida.

“But I’m a little older than that,” said Ramos. “I started in 1989 but I still have a lot of energy and a lot of years left.”

He noted that his office in Doral, FL, features “the same solid team I had a year ago. It is pretty much the same. I’m blessed.”

Jacobs Malcolm & Burtt is a global marketing, packing and shipping company in California, representing growers in California, Mexico and Peru and shipping both asparagus and packaged sweet corn worldwide.

According to company president Steven Espinosa, FruVeg’s asparagus volume from Peru has increased by between 10 and 15 percent year over year for many years running.

In October, leading asparagus importer Farm Direct Supply is partnering with the National Breast Cancer Foundation on an asparagus retail promotion to raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer.