 In May, our thoughts turn to warmer days, family occasions like Mother's Day, and of course the long weekend that is the unofficial start to summer. May is also the start of the local growing season, with Ontario asparagus being the first field crop to come to market. As a perennial plant, local asparagus appears earlier than other field crops, and is here to enjoy for a fleeting season, from May until the end of June. The season is short and intense. Under ideal weather conditions, an asparagus chute or spear can grow 25 cm in a 24 hour period. This means Ontario asparagus fields need to be harvested daily. This is made possible with the experience and commitment of local and international employees. There are over 90 asparagus growers in Ontario, growing on over 4,000 acres. Together, they harvest over 25 million pounds of asparagus each year, and each spear we eat is cut by hand. Ontario Field Asparagus is picked, packed, and shipped to local markets quickly. This means you enjoy the freshest, most delicious asparagus possible. Enjoy local Ontario asparagus while it's in season. Discover asparagus recipes and tips at ProduceMadeSimple.ca