From staff reports The Empire Asparagus Festival drew 2,500 enthusiastic “spargel” revelers last weekend. The annual weekend-long event has drawn acclaim as “one of the world’s weirdest festivals”. On Friday night, festival organizer and town booster Paul Skinner was honored for his service to Empire. Read Norm Wheeler’s “ode to Paul Skinner” (which was read […]
Empire’s Asparagus Festival this year drew the attention of Japanese food importer Tsukasa Miyakawa (pictured here with Miser’s Hoard owner Paul Skinner), who intends to purchase locally-grown asparagus and import it to Japan. Miyakawa visited Skinner in Empire on June 3. His company imports approximately 800 tons of frozen asparagus each year, and looks to grow that market by 250 tons over the next five years, according to Skinner. Northern Michigan may become their new supply source.
Empire Chamber of Commerce chair Paul Skinner reported that approximately 30 Empire Village and Township residents planted almost 12,000 daffodil bulbs on Front Street last weekend.