Shipping and Handling Asparagus is shipped within hours after harvesting in specially designed crates or cartons for safe arrival to markets around the world. Careful handling at every stage of transit is the key to retaining the superior flavor, texture and nutritional content of fresh California asparagus. Your asparagus growers, packers and shippers are committed to providing optimum quality upon delivery. Proper handling after arrival at your warehouse or store will ensure quality and increase shelf life. When displayed, keep asparagus cool and moist.
Stalks are straight, tender and glossy in appearance.
U.S. grades are No. 1 and No. 2. Drying of the butt-end of spears is a negative quality factor. Commonly asparagus is packed and shipped in cartons with a water-saturated pad to maintain high humidity. The concentration and duration of exposure to exogenous ethylene, to cause this effect, at commonly encountered levels during storage and distribution are not available. Signs of CO2injury are small to elongated pits, generally first observed just below the tips.