Foodservice selection includes vertically farmed salad leaves, Isle of Wight tomatoes, Jersey Royals, summer berries, and expanded microgreen offer
Major fresh produce foodservice supplier Fresh Direct has launched its Summer Picks 2026 range, unveiling a “focused line-up of peak-season British crops and chef-ready innovation to help operators build more seasonal, flavour-driven menus”.
The range brings together vertically farmed salad leaves, premium Isle of Wight tomatoes, Jersey Royals, summer berries, and an expanded selection of microgreens. According to Fresh Direct, the selection reinforces the company’s “commitment to provenance, sustainability and consistent kitchen performance”.
Andy Pembroke, managing director of Fresh Direct, said: “Our Summer Picks 2026 range is designed to empower chefs with the freshest, most sustainable British produce, helping them create menus that truly celebrate the season’s best. We’re proud to support operators in delivering exceptional quality and flavour while championing environmental responsibility.”
All of Fresh Direct’s contracted British produce comes from LEAF Marque-accredited farms, a first in foodservice, so sustainability and “low-impact growing” are high on the agenda. For example, Fresh Direct has expanded its partnership with vertical farming business GrowUp Farms to introduce pesticide-free, ready-to-use salad mixes, produced using 100 per cent renewable energy.
New additions from GrowUp, including the Unbeleafable Baby Garlic Kale Mix and Mixed Baby Leaf, give kitchens high-convenience options for adding freshness and flavour without additional prep.
Tomatoes remain a key seasonal driver, with Isle of Wight Beef, coeur de boeuf, heirloom and mixed baby plum varieties returning for the British season. Fresh Direct said it has paired the range with “chef‑led recipes that showcase the tomatoes’ natural sweetness, structure and colour, positioning them as hero ingredients for summer menus”.
Microgreens continue to gain momentum on restaurant menus, and Fresh Direct said its partnership with Westlands “brings operators a broad choice of menu-appealing varieties harvested at peak flavour”.
Fresh Direct’s Summer Picks brochure highlights microgreens as a simple way to premiumise dishes, with products such as Micro Broccoli Leaf, Micro Red Amaranth, and the Shoot Mix used throughout the seasonal recipes to add aroma, texture and visual lift.
The Summer Picks collection also marks the return of key British seasonal crops, including Jersey Royals, rhubarb and berries, each supported by dishes developed by chefs to help operators drive margin and meet rising demand for “plant-forward, flavour-led plates”.
New portabellini mushrooms also join the line-up, offering a firm, meaty texture suited to grilling, roasting and bold marinades.
