About Asparagus
The word asparagus originates from the Greek language meaning "sprout" or "shoot". Asparagus is a member of the lily family. Cultivation of asparagus began over 2,000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean Region. Romans and Greeks alike ate asparagus for the rich flavor and medicinal qualities.
The lily vegetable spread to all parts of the Mediterranean; from Egypt to Spain. France and England developed the taste for asparagus as a delicacy traced back to 16th century gastronomic literature.
Asparagus came to America with the early colonists. Cultivation spread west to include Michigan, California and Washington State.