Quality and Safety in Asparagus Cultivation: A Three-Year Case Study Comparing Standardized Agricultural Bases and Small-Scale Farmers

Abstract

To investigate the quality and safety difference between agricultural standardization bases and small-scale farmers, we carried out a three-year investigation of asparagus from seven production sites of different sizes in Pinghu city, Zhejiang Province, China, from 2021 to 2023. We documented trace elements (Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu), quality indicators (vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, total sugar, and proteins), and pesticide residues. The evaluation indicated that the quality of asparagus in standardization bases 1-4 was higher than that in small farmer sites 5-7. The detection rate of pesticides in asparagus was 23.81% (15/63), with a low concentration range of 0.001-0.130 mg mL-1. Low pesticide levels reflect Pinghu’s effective green pest control measures. Results showed that the quality and safety of asparagus at the standardization bases are superior to those at small-scale farmer sites, and our findings may inform better management practices for both large-scale and small-scale asparagus farmers.