Coronavirus concerns cause postponement of Northern California Asparagus Festival

As California residents shelter in their homes as part of a statewide mandate to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, a longtime state gathering has called off the event this year.

The San Joaquin Asparagus Festival, which was scheduled to celebrate its 35th anniversary this year, has postponed the annual event until 2021 due to concerns over COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

Because the vegetable is harvested between late February and May in the San Joaquin Valley, the festival’s promoters said they couldn’t move the event to a later 2020 date, The Noceti Group Inc. said in a news release.

“Obviously disappointing, but the right thing to do,” Tony Noceti told The Record newspaper or Stockton. “I think Governor (Newsom) has the right idea, we have to do what we can to stop the illness.”

The event is known for its numerous asparagus-inspired cuisine, including ice cream, pastas, burritos and its signature deep-fried asparagus spears.

In doing its part to slow the spread of the coronavirus, event organizers said in the release they are “committed to helping flatten the curve by protecting the general public as well as everyone who is involved in making this festival happen.”

The festival, which was to take place April 15-17 at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, has been hosted at different Stockton locations over the years, including Oak Grove Regional Park and along the city’s downtown waterfront.

This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 6:59 AM.