You can get a higher quality version from the official web site Asparagus: Stalking the American Life (where you can also buy the DVD which supports family farmers) and also at Media That Matters, where you can also read an explanation of this interesting project from director/poducers Kirsten Kelly and Anne de Mare, who write:

Three years ago, we set out to make a film about the self-proclaimed Asparagus Capital of the Nation, the tiny rural community in western Michigan where Kirsten grew up in the 1970s and 80s. As the daughter of an asparagus farmer, Kirsten spent her childhood working on the farm and was a proud member of the pre-teen asparagus dance troupe The Oceana Stalkers. There was no question that asparagus was huge in Oceana County. Hailed as Green Gold, it was exactly what this poor rural community needed - a spring cash crop at the end of a long cold winter.

Asparagus was king in Oceana County ... until the War on Drugs eliminated import tariffs on South American asparagus and kicked the bottom out of the market. This film is the story of the reaction of folks in Oceana County and one look at how broad US policies can have devastating and unintended impacts.

The annual National Asparagus Festival will be held June 13-15, 2008. In addition to a showing of the film at on Friday, June 13 at 7 PM at the Hart Middle School Auditorium, events include the Joan Glover Royale Parade (Saturday, 2 PM in Hart), an Asparagus Food Show and an Asparagus Fly-In Pancake Breakfast at the Oceana County Airport.

Photo courtesy Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board. Hungry? Dig into Absolute Michigan keyword Asparagus!