Michigan Is Apparently The Asparagus Capitol of America

Michigan has a lot going for it in terms of claim to fame. Mackinac Island is constantly one of the top summer travel destinations in the entire country, and Traverse City has long been the Cherry Capital of the World. Fruit Ridge in West Michigan is one of the premier regions in the world for fruit-growing, earning the distinction of being considered an "agricultural mecca."

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However, Michigan grows significantly more than just, with $104.7 billion of the state's annual income coming from agriculture. While crops like corn, apples, and blueberries are pretty well-known staples of Michigan, there is one crop that Michigan is the number one supplier of in the world that seems to fly completely under the radar: asparagus. 

26 Millions Pounds of Asparagus

As someone who has never been a huge fan of asparagus, it's easily possible that I'm out of the loop on Michigan's asparagus production. Imagine my surprise when I learned that, according to the 2023 agricultural data, Michigan produces over 26 million pounds of asparagus (across more than 9,500 acres) each year.  Even more surprising is that the asparagus comes from 120 family farms across the state, meaning these farms are doing serious work.

What Makes Michigan Great For Asparagus

What makes asparagus such a unique crop is that it is harvested so early in the season. While fall is typically associated with harvesting crops, asparagus is a spring crop. The season runs from late April through June. This harvest ranks first in the entire country and can last the whole year, even during the colder months.

READ MORE: You Must Visit These 10 West Michigan Apple Orchards

The Great Lakes' "moderate temperature and sandy soils" make for perfect asparagus growing conditions. Michigan is also unique in that the asparagus farmers ride on riders and pick the asparagus by hand, leading to better-tasting yields.