Quality and Safety\nin Asparagus Cultivation: A Three-Year\nCase Study Comparing Standardized Agricultural Bases and Small-Scale\nFarmers

To investigate the quality and safety difference between\nagricultural\nstandardization bases and small-scale farmers, we carried out a three-year\ninvestigation of asparagus from seven production sites of different\nsizes in Pinghu city, Zhejiang Province, China, from 2021 to 2023.\nWe documented trace elements (Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu), quality indicators\n(vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, total sugar, and proteins), and\npesticide residues. The evaluation indicated that the quality of asparagus\nin standardization bases 1–4 was higher than that in small\nfarmer sites 5–7. The detection rate of pesticides in asparagus\nwas 23.81% (15/63), with a low concentration range of 0.001–0.130\nmg mL<sup>–1</sup>. Low pesticide levels reflect Pinghu’s\neffective green pest control measures. Results showed that the quality\nand safety of asparagus at the standardization bases are superior\nto those at small-scale farmer sites, and our findings may inform\nbetter management practices for both large-scale and small-scale asparagus\nfarmers.