BelOrta auctions first asparagus of 2018

Last week, the first white asparagus of the year were sold by BelOrta. Producer De Molenkouter from Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium, supplied the first two crates with eight punnets (of 500 grammes) per crate. METRO Cash & Carry bought these first crates for the price of €200 per punnet. BelOrta doubled this amount, and donated 6,400 euro to the Damiaanactie, which added lustre to its national campaign weekend. This first sale is the start of the new asparagus season for BelOrta, and this delicacy can now be enjoyed again. As of now, an increase in supply is expected every week, although we traditionally still have to wait a few months for the production peak.

Crunchy fresh and tender white asparagus are typical seasonal vegetables, and many chefs longingly look forward to them. Officially, the Belgian asparagus season starts on the third Thursday in April (although this product is available from Saint Valentine’s Day), and lasts until 24 June, the feast of Saint John. Last week, the first greenhouse asparagus were sold by BelOrta, which means this year’s asparagus season starts late January, just like last year. It’s an annual tradition for BelOrta to couple the first asparagus to a socially committed initiative. This year, the proceeds of the sale of these first asparagus is doubled, and the amount is donated to the Damiaanactie. “A similar donation of the proceeds might seem like a simple gesture, but its impact is enormous. We can save about 130 lives this way, hoping for a cure isn’t just a dream anymore now. Together, we can give leprosy sufferers a chance for treatment, because everyone deserves health care,” says Line Lismont, press officer for Damiaanactie.

In 2017, more than 3,000,000 kilograms of asparagus were traded by BelOrta, both loose and in punnets or bundles. Besides white asparagus, BelOrta also has an increasing supply of green asparagus. The supply of peeled asparagus is also expanded, and this finds its way both to the retail and to the specialised catering wholesaler’s channel.

Catering wholesaler METRO Cash & Carry will offer this delicacy to its best catering customers through its ten branches. Food professionals with exclusive access to METRO can find anything necessary to use the asparagus in their menus at METRO. Besides, they can be proud that they’ll get the best quality at the best prices.