Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis
Asparagus is a long-lived perennial vegetable well-suited to USDA Zone 6a in Western NY/Lake Erie region, with well-drained soils pH 6.2-7.0. Plant crowns in spring; harvest spears for 6-7 weeks after 3 years light harvest, full by year 5; productive 15+ years.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Growing Season
- Plant
- April-May (2-4 weeks before last frost) – April-May (2-4 weeks before last frost)
- Harvest
- Late April - June – Late April - June
- Frost-free days
- 150+
Yield
- Typical yield
- 3,800 lbs/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 15 years
- Years to full prod.
- 5
- Labor
- 50 hrs/acre
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Established crop with known regional buyers
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price stable over past 3 years
Supply Below Demand
Regional supply roughly balanced with demand
Multiple Buyer Channels
Multiple market channels: wholesale, retail, processing, and/or direct
Value-Added Potential
Limited value-added processing opportunities
Market Growth Projected
Stable market outlook
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Zone 6a within crop range (3.0-8.0)
GDD Sufficient
GDD data not specified; crop is documented as viable in Zone 6a
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (150 days)
Chill Hours Met
Chill hour requirement N/A for this crop type or met by default
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Standard farm equipment compatible or easily adapted
Storage Available
Cold storage needed; may require investment
Irrigation Compatible
Irrigation beneficial; existing vineyard irrigation systems adaptable
Field Layout Suitable
Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop
Labor Availability
High labor requirements; seasonal labor availability may be challenging
Processing Proximity
No nearby specialized processing; may need direct marketing or shipping
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue ($4,200/acre) exceeds regional average
Input Costs Acceptable
Annual operating costs ($1,000/acre) within typical farm budgets
Payback Period OK
Long establishment period (5 years); extended payback
Insurance Available
Federal crop insurance available
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Revenue per labor hour ($84) is competitive
Grants/Subsidies
No specific subsidy programs identified
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $1/per lb |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $4,200 |
| Annual Operating Cost | $1,000/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $7,000/acre |
| Total Input Cost | —/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $1,000 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Available |
Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA RMA, regional budget studies (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Low pest/disease pressure; manageable with standard IPM
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
Low establishment risk; quick to establish or low upfront investment
Climate Resilient
Hardy and resilient to climate variability in the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Risk data for this crop is being collected. Check back soon.
Nearby Buyers
Data sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: Lake Erie (lake_erie)