In the last quarter of 2012, Primaflor presented three new brands: Delicious, Luxure and Sensation, as salad consumers increasingly demand products with a high value added. These, and other products, mainly contain Baby Leaf, and in order to promote it, the firm, which commercialises ready-to-eat salad bags, explains its production process on its blog.
Primaflor points out that Baby Leaf growing is very different to that of other crops, such as Iceberg lettuce. Seeds are planted directly in the fields and the harvesting is also done differently. The crop reaches a height of just 10 centimetres, so mowing units are used. But the biggest difference lies in crop density.
In the case of Iceberg lettuce, the density will be of around 70,000 pieces per hectare; lettuce hearts can reach 150,000 pieces per hectare. In the case of Baby Leaf, the firm produces 10 million pieces per hectare.
Before the planting, the soil is treated with nutrients to improve its quality. After several weeks of irrigation and whichever treatments are needed, the product is ready to be harvested.
Source: Elalmeria
