Just in time for Mother's Day and the barbecue season, SPAR is putting Styrian asparagus in the spotlight together with the "young WILD ("jungen WILDEN") vegetable farmers". The cooperation with the innovative farmers' group from southeastern Styria is now entering its fifth year. May is asparagus's main season. Asparagus has long since made the transition from side dish to main course. Grilled asparagus is the new trend for 2023 - recipes for grilled asparagus are provided by the "young WILD vegetable farmers".
From left to right, the "young WILD" asparagus farmers Andreas Domatschitz, Markus Klobassa, Claudia Tscherner and Richard Oberer. © SPAR/Gerald Flor
As the first vegetable of spring, green and white asparagus heralds fresh, light summer cuisine in Styria. Current figures show that seasonal vegetables from Styria are booming: The area under asparagus cultivation by the "young WILD vegetable farmers" around Bad Radkersburg has more than tripled in the five years to over 25 hectares. Claudia Tscherner, one of the four farmers who supply SPAR, explains: "Due to fewer hours of sunshine in April, this year's season starts somewhat later than usual. The slower growth does not detract from the quality, quite the opposite: we are pleased with the full yield and excellent product quality."
Asparagus on the grill this year
A new trend is grilling asparagus. Around Mother's Day, the grilling season reaches its first peak. The "young WILD vegetable growers" know tips and tricks on how to perfectly grill white and green asparagus and provide recipes for SPAR customers. Christoph Holzer, Managing Director of SPAR Styria, says: "Fresh vegetables and light summer dishes go wonderfully with the start of the barbecue season. We know that today, more than ever, our customers value maximum freshness, short transport routes and excellent product quality. Our young, WILD Styrian vegetable growers implement exactly this customer wish to perfection."
"We are happy to have a strong partner at our side with SPAR"
"In our group, the joy is huge that now the asparagus season is now reaching its peak. We are happy to have SPAR as a strong partner at our side for the fifth year in a row and thus to be able to offer our asparagus throughout the entire province," says Claudia Tscherner of the " young WILD" on the sustainable cooperation with SPAR.
All four "young WILD vegetable growers" are around 30 years young and go their own, innovative, ways in agriculture. The cooperation between SPAR and the "young WILD" is bearing fruit not only in the field of asparagus. The "young WILD" also supply seasonal Styrian raspberries, blueberries and kiwi berries of the highest organic quality.
SPAR is a partner of Styrian agriculture
As a 100 % Austrian family business, sustainability and regionality are deeply anchored in SPAR's identity. The partnership with Styrian agriculture, regional value creation as well as the preservation and promotion of domestic food production have always been important concerns for SPAR.
Further information:
https://www.spar.at