Salads go on-line

The British Leafy Salads Association (BLSA) has launched its first website, www.britishleafysalads.co.uk, since it changed its name in 2002.

It said the website is part of a move to provide a stronger voice for the industry and is designed to appeal to a variety of visitors, from members, to retailers and even consumers.

The site also features recipes, which use a variety of salad leaves, for year-round inspirational dishes.

David Piccaver, chairman of the BLSA, said: “As an industry we are proud to be driving the best possible standards to achieve the best, freshest and highest quality produce.

“I am delighted that we have a platform for consumers and retailers to be able to learn and understand more about what we are achieving as an industry.

“I would like the BLSA to become an even stronger voice for the industry. I would like to seek synergistic activity with other crop associations to combine collective strength where appropriate.”

The UK salad market is worth £490m, according to TNS figures, and the BLSA , which is made up of salad growers and packers, has the primary aim of growing the market further, by increasing UK consumption of leafy salads.

Originally known as The British Iceberg Growers Association, a change in name in 2002 heralded the maturity of the industry as more salad varieties, both wholehead and loose leaf were grown in the UK.