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May 09, 2023

From farm field to supermarket: see how Michigan’s first spring crop is harvested

OCEANA COUNTY, MI-- Snapped, not cut, and a painstaking day in the field equals

OCEANA COUNTY, MI-- Snapped, not cut, and a painstaking day in the field equals a flavorful, crisp product for consumers. On a hot spring day, Asparagus grows rapidly in the rich soil of Oceana County.

A group of farmhands stay cool in the shade as the heat of the day approaches. Once the time is right they head to what appears to be a grounded biplane. The farmhands get onto the horizontal picking cart and fire up a small motor that propels them through the fields along Lake Michigan. Hunched over with their feet in make-shift stirrups, the farmhands snap off the best eight inch green and purple stalks in sight. This process continues for eight to 10 hours depending on the weather.

An aerial image of workers picking asparagus in a field in Oceana County, Michigan on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. They try to only pick eight inch pieces of asparagus. (Drone image by Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Asparagus is one of the first crops in Michigan to appear in spring. The season typically runs from late April through June.

Workers pick asparagus in a field in Oceana County, Michigan on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. They try to only pick eight inch pieces of asparagus. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

As temperatures warm past 50 degrees, asparagus sprouts rapidly, prompting farmers in Oceana County to harvest twice a day in peak season to ensure they are snapping stalks at the ideal 8-inch mark.

READ MORE: 5 facts about Michigan's ‘Asparagus Capital of the World’

In 24 hours, asparagus can grow from two to 10 inches.

Oceana County is considered an agricultural haven in Michigan and the "Asparagus Capital of the World." The region has the right temperature and perfect sandy soil.

Farmer Joe Prado, who took MLive out to one of his fields, snaps off a stalk and takes a bite. "To me, it's a specialty," he said. "I have tasted asparagus from other places, even in the states, Mexico, Peru, and it doesn't taste the same."

The daily haul is loaded into 500 pound bins, which are brought to a local processing facility. The facility is similar to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, except instead of churning out chocolate and sweets they prepare the healthy crop to be eaten year-round.

An estimated 30% of Michigan's crop is processed for freezing and canning.

A person grades a load of freshly picked asparagus at Michigan Freeze Pack, Michigan on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

MLive got a first-hand look inside Michigan Freeze Pack Co. in Hart as asparagus arrived for processing. When the asparagus arrives it is weighed, inspected and graded on a pay scale.

It is then processed into certain length cuts and tips based on the clients request.

Asparagus comes out of the TranSlicer cutter, where the vegetable was cut into cuts and tips at Michigan Freeze Pack, Michigan on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Every five minutes, 500 pounds are dumped onto an assembly line where stalks go through a rigorous 12-step process of blowing, shaking, washing and hand inspecting as they move to cutting, blanching and flash freezing.

Asparagus runs through the optical sorting laser machine at Michigan Freeze Pack, Michigan on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. The lasers can detect if the cuts and tips have plant material in them or not, it will kick the bad products out. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Also in the process are special scanners that look for plant materials. Another machine is equipped with a metal detector to insure product safety.

The processing plant freezes eight varieties of produce throughout the year. Asparagus makes up the least amount, 3 million pounds annually, because of its high cost at 83 cents per pound.

Asparagus season is "a boon to the town," said Tom Brian, CEO and General Manager of Michigan Freeze Pack Co. "Grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, they all have additional customers that we don't have in the winter time, so asparagus is very important,"

Among its customer base is a new business, Asparagus Nuggets. Farmer Joe Prado has been developing the perfect breaded, deep-fried bite of asparagus for the last two years. He and his business partner, Dave Hansen are hoping the snacks can help maintain the industry throughout the year.

RELATED: Michigan's deep-fried solution to beating Mexico in asparagus market

"They’re trying to boost a market that is relatively flat with dwindling acreage," Brian said. "It's very important that Dave and Joe get their product done the right way so that they can get to their markets and help boost the sales of asparagus."

Michigan ranks first in the nation for asparagus production with an estimated 20 million pounds produced annually, according to the Michigan Department of Agricultural and Rural Development (MDARD).

Oceana County grows more than two-thirds of Michigan's 20 million pounds asparagus grown each year.

There are more than 100 asparagus growers in the state harvesting approximately 9,500 acres annually, according to MDARD.

For the 50th year, the city of Hart will be hosting its annual National Asparagus Festival on June 10. The festival will feature parades, fireworks, 5Ks and an asparagus queen.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free "3@3 Grand Rapids" daily newsletter.

Also on MLive:

Michigan farmers hop off ‘hamster wheel of traditional cash crops,’ into products

Young Michigan growers want to farm – but they can't afford land

Michigan marries two large industries to become agritourism hot spot

Farmers grow extra crops. Michigan food banks need extra cash to buy it.

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