You could eat green asparagus, how about the rare variety demanded in high-end restaurants?

A commercial crop of European white asparagus has first sprouted in Australia on a small family farm near Brighton in southern Tasmania.

Key points: white asparagus are popular in Germany, but not widely used in Australia It has a shorter harvest period and is growing rapidly Top chefs are showing interest and want to put the vegetable on plates in their upscale establishments.

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Richard Weston first tasted white asparagus during an agricultural study trip to the Netherlands in 2012.

The distinctly a sweeter, earthier flavor compelled him to bring the European vegetable back home to Australia.

"I wondered why something could be so popular and in demand in Europe and yet Aussies weren't entertaining the thought," Mr Weston said.

"Something that has always stuck w According to me, in Germany every man, woman and child consumes about 20 kilos of white asparagus - there are 85 million people in Germany.

Test and Error

Mr. Weston dabbled with the European variety of white asparagus for about six years before teaming up with friend and business partner Tom Barham.

White asparagus spears emerging from the ground are now ready to harvest. (Supplied: -Plate)

"Richard said we had to have a talk on the floor of my property and then the Tasmanian white asparagus adventure was born," said Mr Barham. >

"It was the structural soil we have here, the sandy loam we are blessed with, and the drainage is good.

"Conditions are similar to those in Europe, where it grows."

Quick spring vegetable

Asparagus is typically grown in Australia from September to March , with 95% of the crop produced in Victoria.

However, white asparagus has a much shorter harvest time – just four weeks in Tasmania – and it grows at a phenomenal rate .< /p>

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