Asparagus: Effect of controlled atmosphere storage on shelf‐life of four cultivars

Four cultivars of asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis L. ‘Mary Washington 500W’, ‘Limbras 18’ ‘Rutgers Beacon’, and ‘Jersey Giant’) were harvested from a single site and stored at 1°C for up to three weeks in air and controlled atmosphere (CA; 7% O 2 , 7% CO 2 ). All cultivars stored well but shelf‐life was reduced with increasing storage time in both air and CA. Water loss alone did not appear to be responsible for the reduction in shelf‐life. CA significantly increased shelf‐life. ‘Jersey Giant’ had a significantly longer shelf‐life than the other three cultivars.