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May 2002 - Media Release Stay tuned for Fresh Asparagus News! This media release comes to you from the Australian Asparagus Council. Knowing you are planning your Spring issues now, we hope you will consider Australian asparagus for feature story. Thousands of years ago, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans prized asparagus for its medicinal properties. In the time of King Louis XIV asparagus was dubbed ‘The King of Vegetables’. In spite of a history spanning more than 2000 years, the fascination for this delectable vegetable has not diminished. Today, asparagus, with its unique delicate shape and distinctive flavour, is still highly prized by home cooks and top restaurant chefs alike. The Australian Asparagus Council is a group of 74 asparagus growers in the Koo Wee Rup, Bairnsdale and Lindenow areas of Victoria. The small town of Koo Wee Rup is located 65 km south east of Melbourne and is the major asparagus production area in Australia, producing over 70% of Australia’s asparagus crop. Asparagus thrives in the Koo Wee Rup area due to its black peaty clay soils - with their high moisture holding capacity - mild summer climate and sea breezes from nearby Western Port Bay. The first commercial asparagus plantings took place in the 1930’s, with potatoes, mixed cropping and dairying also thriving in the area. Over the last eight years asparagus plantings have doubled - to supply the lucrative export market and increasing consumer demand on the domestic market - bringing the total production area to 1,620 hectares. Today more than 60% of the crop is exported, accounting for 45% of Victoria’s exports. Asparagus is now the largest fresh vegetable dollar earner for Victoria, valued at $40 million. High quality green, white and purple asparagus is produced in the area, with harvests commencing in August. In the first week of June, we will be sending you a media kit including bright new asparagus recipes and a CD with images of prepared dishes, and some unique story lines. In the first week of September, we will be sending you a gift pack of new season’s farm fresh asparagus and launch the Australian Asparagus Council’s new website. Stay tuned! | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Back | Home | About Asparagus | Recipes & Tips | What's New | From the Chefs | Supplying Asparagus | Contact us | Site Map Copyright© Australian Asparagus Council. Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure that the information on this website is correct and up to date, no representation is made or warranty given (either express or implied) as to the completeness, accuracy or currency of the information that it contains. Last updated August 2007 | |
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