Reduced supply of frozen and preserved asparagus in Peru

Prolonged cold weather conditions have affected the asparagus supply - reduced yield - in the central coast region of Peru, limiting the volume that can be exported. However, the lowered MRL of cadmium in the EU allows more quantity to be exported. To take advantage of such market situation, exporters are more prone to export fresh asparagus rather than preserved or frozen as fresh asparagus is usually more profitable than frozen/preserved ones. Therefore, reduced yield and greater quantity being exported as fresh is reducing the supply available for frozen and preserved asparagus in the market.