Close to the hearts of San Joaquin County residents is the world-renowned and very successful annual Asparagus Festival. Attracting over 100,000 visitors each year, this prestigious celebration of the mighty delta crop consistently delivers family fun, delicious food and excellent entertainment. Foodies and festival seekers will be interested to know that this tasty vegetable is also honored worldwide.

In England, the British Asparagus Festival is held in late May in the Vale of Evesham. Events include a farmers’ market, a craft fair, cooking demonstrations, auctions and educational programs.

In Germany, Asparagus Days or Spargeltage are celebrated in Gross-Gerau and nearby towns. Attendees enjoy cooking demonstrations, craft booths and plenty of local, fresh asparagus to purchase.

In Italy two cities pay homage to the asparagus. The town of Altedo, near Bologna, dedicates ten days in May to “the green king” with artistic exhibitions, concerts, poetry readings, sports competitions and gourmet tastings, whereas in Bassano, a small town one hour north of Venice, restaurateurs take the lead and organize their own party. Chefs compete to create new dishes or interpretations of classic ones, using the locally celebrated white asparagus (grown white by keeping the stalks from exposure to the sun by mounding dirt over them), which is so valued that it has attained official government recognition: Asparagi DOC di Bassano.

Interesting asparagus facts:

- The tender green spears of asparagus have been considered a delicacy since ancient times.

- Asparagus is low in calories, contains no fat or cholesterol, and is very low in sodium.

- A one cup serving provides a generous amount of folic acid, vitamin K, potassium, dietary?fiber and the amino acidasparagine.

- The U.S. is the world’s third largest producer of asparagus, after China and Peru.

- Asparagus is a perennial,leafless member of the lily family.

- Asparagus is best enjoyed after being picked during the coolest hours of the day and quickly cooled.