Waitrose has announced its support for an innovative growing system which will enable the company to offer UK-grown salad leaves year-round.
Launching British Chard & Salad Leaves this week, the retailer will be the first this year to offer British salad leaves - grown to LEAF Marque Standards - well ahead of the growing season, which starts in May.
The greens are produced in a 1.5 hectare, highly energy-efficient greenhouse in Evesham, Worcestershire.
In this environment, the leaves only take 35-40 days to grow, compared to up to 16 weeks in the field, and the shorter, local supply chain means that the leaves are fresher when they arrive at the supermarket.
The closed environment also helps to control pests and diseases, which reduces the need for pesticides and helps to prevent unnecessary food waste.
Nicola Waller, head of fresh produce at Waitrose, commented, "Developing this innovative way of growing salad leaves means that we can source from the UK all year round and increase our commitment to British farming."
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Martha Sparrius. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
