<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mexico and Peru -</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By Jordan Okumura<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">01.24.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The market is experiencing a considerable shortage of asparagus presently in the U.S. markets. The shortage of asparagus can be attributed to lower supplies from Peru, but the shortage is largely seasonal as production is less in the country's Summer. A larger cause of the lack of supply is due to recent weather complications in Mexico. Typically, Mexico kicks in at this time of year with significant volumes, but the country is late to the game due to unseasonably cold weather, one grower tells us. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/Asparagus_Shortage_BODY.jpg" alt="Images012413" /></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The same cold weather that hit California's Central Valley has drifted south into Mexico where the freezing conditions hit the Southern Sonora region. The most affected areas were south of Sonora State in Valle de Guaymas, Valle del Yaqui and Valle del Mayo as well as north of Sinaloa State in El Carrizo area.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Last year, Mexico came on in significant volumes at this time of year, flooding the market and lowering asparagus prices. In response, growers in Peru adjusted harvest to the Mexican season to prevent this event from happening again. Now that the supplies in Mexico have been delayed due to the cold conditions, the market is left with a gap in asparagus supply.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
