Asparagus Mystery: What Killed Large Stockton Crop Just Weeks Before Harvest?
STOCKTON (CBS13) — California's drought has taken a toll on the asparagus crop in the region, with recent warm weather claiming an entire field of the vegetable.
April is harvest season for Stockton's asparagus, and in the fourth year of the drought, it seems like the perfect plant to survive the changing climate.
"Asparagus is a very adaptable crop, a very resilient crop. It tolerates a lot of water and not too much water," said grower Marc Marchini.
But across California and Mexico, growers are reporting smaller stalks and fewer fields this year. Last week, Stockton grower Klein Family Farms announced all of its asparagus beds died. While he declined to speak on camera, owner Jeffrey Klein says he suspects he may have overwatered the asparagus during the winter months.
But the University of California Agricultural Cooperative Extension doesn't think that's the case. UC Davis researchers say the asparagus death is a mystery. They found a few cases of disease, but not severe enough to kill a whole crop. And asparagus can tolerate overwatering.
"I've seen asparagus fields flood for over a month at a time," Marchini said.
He suspects warm temperatures this winter may have thrown off the asparagus life cycle.
"They sleep during the winter time when it gets really cold. They just simply rest," he said.
Marchini expects the price of asparagus to be higher than last year's because there are fewer crops. Despite the smaller size, it's still a great harvest, he says.
"We do have smaller stalks, but the quality of the spear itself is good," he said.
