Slash Your Grocery Bill: The Best Time to Score Cheap Asparagus Revealed!

Each spring, their arrival is met with great excitement. However, their price still causes many to wince. “I love them, but I have to limit myself: they’re not cheap!” Martine shares, examining the display. Others opt out entirely: “We can’t afford this luxury right now,” laments a couple. It’s common knowledge that asparagus is expensive, often priced as one of the most costly vegetables at markets or supermarkets, admits Astrid Etevenaux, head of Asperges de France. The high cost is largely due to labor-intensive cultivation. “60% of the cost is due to labor,” explains Christophe Paillaugue, a producer in the Landes region. While it’s tough to reduce labor costs, timing your purchase can make a difference, as prices fluctuate significantly throughout the season, Etevenaux points out. The difference is substantial: prices can drop from nearly 20 euros to less than 10 euros per kilo.

In France, the asparagus season runs from March to June. The first batches typically come from the Southwest, the sunniest producing region. However, this area alone can’t supply the entire country. “At the start of the season, there’s little supply but high demand,” Etevenaux summarizes. Consequently, prices soar. Between March and April, white and violet asparagus can cost between 16 to 17 euros per kilo, she reports. However, this spike is temporary. “After Easter, there’s a real shift,” observes the director. Indeed, once the initial demand spike subsides, prices gradually decrease until the end of the season. The best time to snag a deal? May-June. During this period, asparagus becomes much more affordable—nearly half the price of early season rates. By the season’s end, prices generally hover between 9 and 10 euros per kilo, she notes.

True, these prices are still higher than everyday vegetables like carrots or radishes, but the savings are significant! Clearly, if you want to enjoy asparagus at its best price, it pays to wait a bit longer.