Year-round asparagus production

There is an increasing demand for fresh asparagus all-year round by consumers in developed countries. Currently out of season produce can only be provided by importing-from tropical regions, and the southern hemisphere (for northern hemisphere consumers). Quality of imported product can never be as good as locally produced, and in many cases has to overcome high freight costs, and inadequate postharvest. The opportunity to produce the crop in containers, and to use older greenhouses for the fern growing phase, and fully insulated buildings for spear production appears to offer a potentially valuable strategy.