Yeonggwang-gun Begins Full-Scale Shipment of 'Asparagus'

[Yeonggwang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seong-jeong] Jeollanam-do Yeonggwang-gun (Governor Kim Jun-seong) announced on the 7th that the seasonally ripe 'Asparagus' is being shipped in full swing.

Asparagus was once considered a rare ingredient in the West, enjoyed only by royalty or nobles, earning it the nickname 'King's Vegetable.' In Korea, due to changes in dietary habits, it is consumed more each year?about 4-5% growth annually?either paired with meat or used in salads.

In addition to its crisp texture, asparagus contains a large amount of asparagine acid, which helps relieve fatigue and hangovers, and rutin, which strengthens blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, making it known as a health-functional vegetable.

The county has taken advantage of its mild climate, which allows for early harvesting 1 to 2 months before the main shipment of Gangwon-do asparagus next month, and has been fostering asparagus as a niche income crop during the off-season months of March and April when there is no agricultural income. Since 2018, it has been introduced on a trial basis and is currently cultivated on 0.5 hectares by 2 farms.

An official from the Agricultural Technology Center said, "Asparagus is an item with increasing consumption every year due to recent changes in diets, and it is expected to greatly help farmers' income during the off-season. We will strive to continuously foster it as a niche crop."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.