I still think this came out of a wager in the Whole Foods marketing department.
"Hey, since our customers will pay ridiculous sums for anything we put out there, let's come up with the most outrageous product we can for $5.99."
"Okay, how about four pieces of broccoli in a mason jar of water? We'll bill it as some sort of veggie superwater."
"I like it. But let's make it asparagus as an f-you to Michael Pollan. Remember how he bashed us in the Omnivore's Dilemma for flying our asparagus in from Peru, saying the jet fuel used wasn't exactly in keeping with our all-organic, save-the-world philosophy?"
"Asparagus water. Let's do it!"