Do you remember that scene in Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, where the main character, Wayne, was suspended above his grass searching for his kids? That is what some, in the comments of a viral Tik Tok video, are comparing the process of harvesting asparagus to.
Bellmann’s Specialty Produce recently went viral on Tik Tok for showcasing their way of harvesting asparagus. For people who are new to the world of asparagus, it may come as a surprise when they learn it can be done... horizontally.
If you’re a small asparagus farmer, it might be normal to pick the stalks by hand or with an asparagus knife but as acres begin to accumulate, new methods are implemented to keep up with the harvest. Field carts are a common addition to an asparagus farmer’s equipment so that a farmer can sit or, like Bellmann's Specialty Produce, lay on the cart then pick asparagus as it moves along the field.
The latter is what has been turning heads, both on and offline. On Tik Tok, Bellmann’s video of harvesting asparagus while laying on a field cart has amassed over 1.5 million views and 78.8 thousand likes. Although the sudden popularity on social media came to a surprise to the Bellmann family, they are familiar with people taking an interest in their harvesting methods. According to Jen Bellmann, it is not rare to see vehicles parked by their field to take photos the first time they see their team laying on a field cart.
Viral Asparagus Harvesting Video
Viewers were quick to share their astonishment with asparagus harvesting in the comments section of Bellmann’s viral video. One user, named Carly B on Tik Tok, shared “If you gave me a hundred guesses on how asparagus is harvested, I still wouldn’t have gotten to people supermaning over the field picking it by hand!”
The comment section even became a place for the Bellmann family to interact with the viewers and explain the harvesting process in further detail. After one user asked how the field cart was moving, Bellmann’s replied explaining that their cart self-propels and follows a furrow that they make in the field until the end of the row when one worker will get off and turn the machine around.
Considering the labour that goes into asparagus harvesting, some have questioned if there is a more efficient method. Using a field cart, whether self-propelled or pulled by a tractor, is currently the most common and practical way; however, technology is being developed to design robots that can be used for harvest. The robots being tested utilize artificial intelligence and GPS to navigate fields, identify which stalks are mature, and pick the asparagus. If implemented, these robots could help save farmers time and money during the harvest season.
Bellmann’s Specialty Produce is a small farm operation near Armstrong, British Columbia. They have been operating since 2005, growing a diversity of crops including corn, rainbow carrots, beets, parsnips, and of course, asparagus. Bellmann’s Specialty Produce, like many other small farms, is a mix of wholesale, local retail, and farm gate, with their farm gate operations being based on the honour system. You can learn more about their operations by visiting their Facebook page, @BellmannProduce.