Asparagus Prices in the United States from 2020 to 2025

Historical Price Data (2020–2025)

In 2020, the U.S. season-average farm price for asparagus was around $129 per hundredweight (cwt), or roughly $1.29 per pound, according to USDA data. This reflects what growers received, primarily for fresh market sales, as most U.S. asparagus is sold fresh rather than processed. Imports, mainly from Mexico and Peru, heavily influenced supply, with over 502 million pounds imported in 2017 (a trend that continued into 2020), keeping prices competitive. Retail prices varied, but imported asparagus could hit as low as $2 per pound at wholesale, challenging domestic growers whose production costs hovered around $1.03 per pound for harvesting and packing alone.

By 2021, farm prices dipped slightly. Export data suggests a per-kilogram price of $3.12 (about $1.42 per pound), indicating a potential softening at the grower level, possibly due to increased import volumes—265,087 tons were imported into the U.S. that year. Retail prices, however, showed volatility; for example, organic asparagus from Mexico reached $5.80–$6 per pound wholesale in early 2020, a benchmark that likely carried into 2021 as demand for organic grew.

In 2022, farm prices continued a downward trend, with export data showing $2.95 per kilogram (around $1.34 per pound). At retail, prices fluctuated seasonally—March and April saw lows due to peak Mexican supply (e.g., $32.45 for an 11-pound carton of Mexican asparagus, or $2.95 per pound at shipping point), while August hit higher marks. Consumer prices likely averaged $3–$4 per pound in stores, reflecting import dominance and a shrinking domestic acreage (down to 19,200 acres from 29,000 a decade earlier).

For 2023, the USDA’s Economic Research Service predicted a 2.7% rise in food-at-home prices, suggesting asparagus followed suit. Farm-level prices might have stabilized near $1.40–$1.50 per pound, factoring in tight domestic supply and steady imports. Retail prices probably edged up to $3.50–$4.50 per pound, driven by broader inflation (all-food CPI up 2.6% from February 2024 to 2025).

In 2024, with food-at-home prices forecasted to increase 2.7% (within a range of -0.1% to 5.7%), asparagus likely saw farm prices around $1.45–$1.55 per pound, assuming stable production costs and import pressure. Retail prices could have climbed to $4–$5 per pound, especially for organic or locally grown options, as consumer demand for premium produce persisted.

For 2025, as of April 3, the USDA’s March 2025 Food Price Outlook pegs all-food prices to rise 3.2% (1.3% to 5.1% range), with food-at-home at 2.7%. If asparagus tracks this, farm prices might hit $1.50–$1.60 per pound, reflecting slight cost increases. Retail prices could range from $4.25–$5.25 per pound, though early spring (like now) might see dips to $3.50–$4 due to seasonal supply from Mexico. Weather, labor costs, and import volumes will tweak these numbers—2025’s snowpack melt and spring conditions could boost or bottleneck supply.

Conclusion

Prices have crept up since 2020, driven by inflation and import reliance, but domestic growers face a squeeze as production costs outpace what they earn. Retail sees wider swings, with cheap imports balancing out pricier local or organic stalks. 

Asparagus Prices in the U.S. (2020–2025)