White asparagus is the same as the more familiar green widely sold in the UK – the only difference is that whilst growing it is not exposed to light, and therefore contains no chlorophyll. As the asparagus grows, soil is piled over the budding stem to shield it from the sunlight. In season between April and June, the majority of white asparagus is grown in the Alsace region of France and in Germany where it takes priority over the green stems we favour here in the UK. The production of white asparagus is a very labour intensive process as each stem has to be harvested by hand, which results in a comparatively hefty price tag.