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National Asparagus Day

National Asparagus Day is celebrated on May 24, and we are ready to eat! Asparagus production in the United States is concentrated between three states: California, Michigan, and Washington, and it is best in the spring, making it the perfect cookout veggie. This versatile vegetable can be pan-seared, fried, baked, or grilled, and it is full of nutrients like fiber, folate, and vitamins A, C, and E.

History of National Asparagus Day

Asparagus was an ancient vegetable. The ancient Greeks and Romans used it as offerings dating back to 3000 BC. They used the Persian word ‘asparag,’ which meant a shoot or sprout. The term ‘sperage’ became popular for many years and, in the 16th century, we find the term ‘sparagus’ used in English-speaking countries. Peasants called it ‘sparrow grass.’

Asparagus was brought to North America by European settlers as early as 1655. A Dutch immigrant to New Netherland, Adriaen van der Donck, refers to asparagus in his description of Dutch farming practices in the New World. This vegetable was also grown by British immigrants. In 1685, an advertisement for Pennsylvania by William Penn displaying a list of crops that grew well in the American climate included asparagus.

Currently, asparagus production in the United States is mainly in three states: California, Michigan, and Washington. In 2019, the national average asparagus yield was around 4,076 pounds per acre and the total asparagus production was 84.39 million pounds.

Asparagus can take three years to go from seed to harvest, but the plants will produce spears for decades, making it a great crop. However, it is quite labor-intensive, as farmworkers handpick each spear. They carefully excavate around each spear to a depth of nine inches and clip it at the base. That’s a lot of work!

Once seen as an offering for the gods, asparagus continues to be celebrated today. In 2019, Oceana County, Michigan celebrated its 46th National Asparagus Festival. Asparagus is kind of a big deal.

National Asparagus Day timeline

1000 A.D.Asparagus Gets its Name

The Greek word ‘asparagos’ first appears in print in English.

1655Asparagus is Brought to America

Asparagus is brought to North America by European settlers.

1973First National Asparagus Festival

Hart, Michigan holds its first annual National Asparagus Day.

1985National Asparagus Month Begins

Asparagus receives a whole month dedicated to it.

National Asparagus Day FAQs

Fresh or frozen?  

Fresh asparagus is great but fresh vegetables can lose nutrients quickly if not used immediately. When frozen, the nutrients are locked in. Either way, asparagus is full of nutrients and is a healthy option.

When did National Asparagus Day begin?  

National Asparagus Day is a part of National Asparagus Month, which dates back to 1985.  

Can you plant asparagus at home?  

Yes, you can. Asparagus should be placed in full sun and lighter soil. Water regularly for the first two years then reduce watering. You can start from one-year-old crowns to get a year’s head start on seeds.

National Asparagus Day Activities

Attend a festival

Visit a farm

Try a new recipe

Share your love for asparagus with like-minded individuals at a festival. You can try Hart, Michigan, or travel to the United Kingdom.

Get your hands dirty and get some extremely fresh asparagus by visiting a farm. There are U-Pick farms located across the United States.

Eating is always a great way to celebrate, so why not try a brand new recipe. You can bake a cheesy sheet pan asparagus or throw it in a frittata; whatever your heart desires.

5 Facts About Asparagus That Will Blow Your Mind

It was used as an offering

It requires patience

Salt was the original herbicide

It’s a hangover cure

Asparagus has its own museum

The ancient Greeks and Romans used it as an offering to the gods.

It takes three years from seed to sow.

Modern farmers often rely on chemical herbicides to manage weed growth, but rock salt was the ancient alternative.

The minerals and amino acids it contains protect the liver from toxins, and the enzymes help break down the alcohol and alleviate hangovers.

You’ll find everything and anything you ever wanted to know about asparagus at the European Asparagus Museum in Bavaria, Germany.

Why We Love National Asparagus Day

Asparagus is versatile

Asparagus is nutritious

Asparagus burns fat

What can you do with spinach? Sauté it? Throw it in a salad? What can you do with asparagus? Air fry it, bake it, grill it, add it to eggs, throw it in a salad, and more. That deserves a celebration.

Asparagus not only provides fiber and folate, but it is also rich in saponins, which are a type of phytonutrient credited with reducing cancer risks and assisting in maintaining blood pressure, regulating blood sugar, and controlling blood lipid levels.

Asparagus contains the chemical asparagine, an alkaloid that has a direct effect on our body’s cells and helps break down fat. Asparagus is also composed of a chemical that assists in removing waste from the body, which reduces fat levels.

National Filet Mignon Day 

The words “filet mignon” call to mind rich, succulent, melt-in-your mouth flavor. Treat yourself to a nice steak dinner, or try cooking it at home.

There is a cut of meat that is the very definition of luxury and decadence, one that falls from the lips of the common people and the rich debutante royalty of Hollywood in equal measure. Filet Mignon is French for “dainty fillet” and first found its way into the world in the 1906 book ”The Four Million”. Filet Minion Day celebrates the history of this steak and the delicious role it has played in exquisite meals.

History of National Filet Mignon Day

Tenderloin. The very word implies a rich and succulent meal that absolutely melts on the tongue, but even in this most perfect cut of meat, there is a portion that is unquestionably the best. This portion is the fabled Filet Mignon. This delicious cut is served in 4 to 8oz portions and comes prepared in one of three varieties, seared in a pan, grilled over coals or the most famous, wrapped in bacon. The bacon is typically added to enrich the piece with fat, as Filet Mignon tends to leanness.

Even though it comes from the tenderloin, there are still multiple cuts of Filet Mignon one can choose to indulge in. The prime cut is the most popular and is available from any form of cattle, the Angus Cut, however, comes specifically from vegetarian fed beef and is far and away one of the best forms of beef available. If you’re truly feeling decadent, you can purchase a 32oz whole Filet Mignon Roast. It may set you back about $65 a pound (That’s $130) but it’ll be worth every succulent bite.

How to Celebrate National Filet Mignon Day

If you don’t have a talent with cooking, you can head out to your local steakhouse and enjoy an expertly prepared cut of Filet Mignon. If you’re feeling more adventurous you can head down to your local butcher and get an excellent cut of meat that you can prepare yourself! Marinate it in a wonderful sauce while you get the coals ready, wrap it in bacon, and set it upon the grill to cook. Gently though! Filet Mignon is best-served medium rare so that the soft tender nature of the meat will be preserved. This is just the first step on enjoying National Filet Mignon Day, but it doesn’t have to be the last!

National Asparagus Day 

Kids might say “blech”, but they don’t know what they’re missing. Asparagus is rich in nutrient, crunchy, and tasty on its own or in dishes like fettucine alfredo.

There are over 200 forms of asparagus but only a few are commonly eaten. The most popular edible asparagus is the garden asparagus. Other edible forms include Argenteuil asparagus and Viola asparagus. This delicious vegetable is a spring classic and is celebrated as such on National Asparagus Day

Learn about National Asparagus Day

National Asparagus Day celebrates the asparagus season. The exact length of the season depends on the weather. It’s usually from around the end of April to the start of June. Because the season is so short, people need to make the most of it while it lasts. Celebrating National Asparagus Day is a fun way to make the most of asparagus while it’s available fresh.

History of National Asparagus Day

Back in the day of ancient Greece and Rome, asparagus was a delicacy for the rich. With time and trade, however, the asparagus was transported to many other countries around the world. As it became better known, its popularity grew and the arrival of the first, delicious spears became a cause for celebration. National Asparagus Day was born.

How to celebrate National Asparagus Day

If you live near an asparagus-growing area, you may find that there’s an official National Asparagus Day party. If you don’t, or there’s not, you could host your own. You could make it as elaborate or as simple as you like. Just make sure that you have some green decor and plenty of asparagus on the menu.

If you’re not up for a full-on party, then how about just having some people round for a meal? You could even have people each bring around a dish to reduce the work for you. You’d just provide the asparagus. Asparagus is really easy to cook, you just steam it lightly. Serve it with a Hollandaise sauce or a poached egg or just plain butter.

Even though asparagus is a spring treat, it’s a really healthy one. Asparagus is not only packed full of vitamins and minerals, it’s rich in antioxidants. It’s also high in protein and fiber.

Preserving asparagus

Part of the reasons why asparagus is so special is because it’s only available for such a short time. You can, however, extend the fun by preserving it. Preserved asparagus isn’t usually as crisp as fresh asparagus so it isn’t as good to eat on its own. It does, however, have the same great taste so it’s a wonderful addition to soups and stews.

You can make National Asparagus Day, the day you preserve as much fresh asparagus as you can. The usual ways are freezing and pickling, but you can also dry asparagus. Another option would be to use asparagus to make a stock for soup or stew. This can be frozen for up to 6 months.

Giving yourself a beauty treatment

If you want an unusual way to celebrate National Asparagus Day, you could try giving yourself an asparagus beauty treatment. Mix 8 parts asparagus with 2 parts oatmeal and apply directly to the face. Leave for about 15 minutes and rinse off. This cleanses the skin without drying it and is a great treatment for acne.

National Asparagus Day

National Asparagus Day is celebrated on May 24, and we are ready to eat! Asparagus production in the United States is concentrated between three states: California, Michigan, and Washington, and it is best in the spring, making it the perfect cookout veggie. This versatile vegetable can be pan-seared, fried, baked, or grilled, and it is full of nutrients like fiber, folate, and vitamins A, C, and E.

History of National Asparagus Day

Asparagus was an ancient vegetable. The ancient Greeks and Romans used it as offerings dating back to 3000 BC. They used the Persian word ‘asparag,’ which meant a shoot or sprout. The term ‘sperage’ became popular for many years and, in the 16th century, we find the term ‘sparagus’ used in English-speaking countries. Peasants called it ‘sparrow grass.’

Asparagus was brought to North America by European settlers as early as 1655. A Dutch immigrant to New Netherland, Adriaen van der Donck, refers to asparagus in his description of Dutch farming practices in the New World. This vegetable was also grown by British immigrants. In 1685, an advertisement for Pennsylvania by William Penn displaying a list of crops that grew well in the American climate included asparagus.

Currently, asparagus production in the United States is mainly in three states: California, Michigan, and Washington. In 2019, the national average asparagus yield was around 4,076 pounds per acre and the total asparagus production was 84.39 million pounds.

Asparagus can take three years to go from seed to harvest, but the plants will produce spears for decades, making it a great crop. However, it is quite labor-intensive, as farmworkers handpick each spear. They carefully excavate around each spear to a depth of nine inches and clip it at the base. That’s a lot of work!

Once seen as an offering for the gods, asparagus continues to be celebrated today. In 2019, Oceana County, Michigan celebrated its 46th National Asparagus Festival. Asparagus is kind of a big deal.

National Asparagus Day timeline

1000 A.D.Asparagus Gets its Name

The Greek word ‘asparagos’ first appears in print in English.

1655Asparagus is Brought to America

Asparagus is brought to North America by European settlers.

1973First National Asparagus Festival

Hart, Michigan holds its first annual National Asparagus Day.

1985National Asparagus Month Begins

Asparagus receives a whole month dedicated to it.

National Asparagus Day FAQs

Fresh or frozen?  

Fresh asparagus is great but fresh vegetables can lose nutrients quickly if not used immediately. When frozen, the nutrients are locked in. Either way, asparagus is full of nutrients and is a healthy option.

When did National Asparagus Day begin?  

National Asparagus Day is a part of National Asparagus Month, which dates back to 1985.  

Can you plant asparagus at home?  

Yes, you can. Asparagus should be placed in full sun and lighter soil. Water regularly for the first two years then reduce watering. You can start from one-year-old crowns to get a year’s head start on seeds.

National Asparagus Day Activities

Attend a festival

Visit a farm

Try a new recipe

Share your love for asparagus with like-minded individuals at a festival. You can try Hart, Michigan, or travel to the United Kingdom.

Get your hands dirty and get some extremely fresh asparagus by visiting a farm. There are U-Pick farms located across the United States.

Eating is always a great way to celebrate, so why not try a brand new recipe. You can bake a cheesy sheet pan asparagus or throw it in a frittata; whatever your heart desires.

5 Facts About Asparagus That Will Blow Your Mind

It was used as an offering

It requires patience

Salt was the original herbicide

It’s a hangover cure

Asparagus has its own museum

The ancient Greeks and Romans used it as an offering to the gods.

It takes three years from seed to sow.

Modern farmers often rely on chemical herbicides to manage weed growth, but rock salt was the ancient alternative.

The minerals and amino acids it contains protect the liver from toxins, and the enzymes help break down the alcohol and alleviate hangovers.

You’ll find everything and anything you ever wanted to know about asparagus at the European Asparagus Museum in Bavaria, Germany.

Why We Love National Asparagus Day

Asparagus is versatile

Asparagus is nutritious

Asparagus burns fat

What can you do with spinach? Sauté it? Throw it in a salad? What can you do with asparagus? Air fry it, bake it, grill it, add it to eggs, throw it in a salad, and more. That deserves a celebration.

Asparagus not only provides fiber and folate, but it is also rich in saponins, which are a type of phytonutrient credited with reducing cancer risks and assisting in maintaining blood pressure, regulating blood sugar, and controlling blood lipid levels.

Asparagus contains the chemical asparagine, an alkaloid that has a direct effect on our body’s cells and helps break down fat. Asparagus is also composed of a chemical that assists in removing waste from the body, which reduces fat levels.