Asparagus. They will be dug up again in the coming months. It is a special regional product that the province of Limburg is proud of. Limburg Marketing and the Limburg (s)makes you better platform recently started an asparagus campaign.
Asparagus was already eaten in Egypt about five thousand years ago. Asparagus has been grown in the Netherlands since the 1950s, especially in the province of Limburg. Provisional figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) indicate an area of 1,774 hectares for Limburg.
The vegetable is also called the Queen of Vegetables, the White Gold and the Pearl of the Country. And in addition to the fact that asparagus is delicious according to consumers – figures from GroentenFruit Huis show that Dutch consumers eat an average of 0.9 kilos of fresh asparagus every year – they are healthy and are seen as a superfood. This is because of the amount of minerals and vitamins in asparagus.
When asparagus can be dug out of the ground, many people go to the province to get or taste the white gold. That is why Limburg Marketing, in collaboration with Limburg (s)maken je better, started an asparagus campaign this week.
The aim of the campaign is to let consumers enjoy asparagus in different ways, but also to support and draw attention to (agricultural) entrepreneurs during a period when they have to sell their product.
Asparagus routes
The two organizations have mapped out various routes throughout the province of Limburg that can be explored by bicycle, car or on foot. Including in the Limburg Peel area. This area has the largest supply of asparagus in the province.
An asparagus cycle route of approximately 34 kilometers has been drawn up in the Limburg Peel area. In addition, routes have been mapped out in the regions of Venray, Roermond, the Meinweg, Leudal and Stramproy. The routes vary from 30 kilometers to almost 60 kilometers.
Several asparagus fields can be seen along those routes. “These fields can be recognized by the distinct stripe pattern of raised earth,” the organizing bodies report. ‘But also at the various sales points, because almost every Limburg asparagus farmer sells asparagus at the door, via a stall or in a farm shop.’
Events
In addition to the asparagus routes, Limburg Marketing and the Limburg (s)makes you better platform organize various asparagus events. Examples of this are the Asparagus Guild and the Asparagus. The Asparagus Festival also takes place in Horst.
The Limburg catering sector is also participating in the asparagus campaign. The culinary stems are on the menu of various restaurants in the province of Limburg from the beginning of April to June 24, on St. John’s name day. There are also various tastings, packages and dinners.
Agrotouristic Limburg
Limburg (s)makes you better is an initiative of Platform Agrotourism. It is an experience platform where tourists and recreationists from the region can orientate themselves and book unique packages in the field of agrotourism in Limburg. It is also part of the rollout of the Regional Investment Agenda for North Limburg. The aim is to position the province as an agrotourism destination. This adds a new perspective to the positioning of Limburg as a tourist destination. The idea of the platform arose as part of the Leisure Economy Action Program 2025.
