Market Basket
Asparagus prices are seasonal

By Joan Namkoong
Advertiser Food Editor

Prices fluctuate throughout the year, with the lowest during the peak of the California season that runs from February to June. At the high point of supply, asparagus can be $1 to $2 a pound. Locally grown asparagus is not likely to reach those price levels (see story, this page). Here are a couple of other points to consider: Locally grown asparagus is fresh and in markets within a day of harvest. The stalks are crisp and sweet — in fact, they're delicious raw. Simply wash, slice and toss them into a salad.

Another factor is how asparagus is harvested here. "On the Mainland, the spears are cut below the surface to include the white part," explained asparagus farmer Milton Agader. "We cut at the surface."

The differential is added weight: The white part is usually woody and tough, increasing with storage and shipping time. Most cooks will snap off the bottom quarter or third of an asparagus spear and discard it before cooking. Freshly harvested asparagus is 90 to 100 percent edible with very little waste.

You can find Waialua asparagus for $3 a pound at farmer Milton Agader's Brown Bottle store in Waialua, and close to that price at North Shore markets. At R. Field at Foodland on Beretania, slender stalks of Waialua asparagus go for $5.99 a pound. Keep checking the produce department at your usual supermarket: A substantial crop of asparagus from Waialua will come to market soon.

Chinatown bargains

Hunting for fresh produce bargains? Might be worth a trip to Chinatown.

On a recent visit, ginger was 99 cents a pound, apple bananas and papayas 59 cents a pound and Chinese greens at about $1 a bunch. There was lots of lychee, priced under $3 a pound, and if you're looking for a Hayden mango, you'll find them among the many vendors. Chinese parsley is always a bargain: $1 buys you the equivalent of three to four supermarket bunches. Yes, parking is a challenge and the crowds can be daunting. But it's a great shopping adventure!

Send shopping queries and new product information to: Market Basket, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. E-mail: jnamkoong@honoluluadvertiser.com. Fax: 525-8055. Or call: 525-8069.