Salad crops with a farm gate value of €26 million are grown every year in Ireland, in a sector which provides employment for more than 500 people. Crops such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and lettuce are grown for use mainly in salads, and what could taste better or be fresher than local produce?
In the retail market to the end of June, there was a 6% increase in the value of sales of cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes and peppers in the last year, to €206 million. At the same time, the volume of sales increased by 5% to 67.5 thousand tonnes.
The sales of tomatoes and lettuce tend to be concentrated amongst the older age groups, but it’s interesting that the most important group for both cucumbers and peppers is 35-44 year olds. However, it’s probably not surprising, there is a heightened interest in healthy eating, and these salad crops fit perfectly with modern consumers lifestyles, because they are versatile and very easy to prepare.
There are also a range of changes in the eating habits of consumers which are increasing the of opportunities where salads are used.
Cooked breakfasts are becoming increasingly popular, with egg sales predicted to increase by 50% by 2018 on the back of this. A cooked breakfast for a weekday may not consist of eggs, bacon and sausages, especially with an increasing emphasis on healthy eating, but tomatoes, one of the few fruit/vegetables to be eaten at breakfast, are ideally placed to take advantage of this trend, they can be fried or even better grilled.
Smoothies have established themselves as a breakfast staple in many households, and new trends are starting to emerge in ingredients. Whilst berries would have been traditionally been the most popular ingredients for a smoothie, and continue to be, less sweet smoothies with more adventurous ingredients are starting to emerge. Spinach is commonly used, and tomato and cucumber add refreshing new tastes to smoothies, to get the day off to a healthy start. You can have half of your 5-a-day done before you’ve left home.
Finally, gin consumption is on the rise, particularly with the introduction of premium brands such as Hendricks, and boutique brands like Glendalough Seasonal Gin. Gin is often served with a slice of cucumber.
You can find out more about the health benefits of the salad crops here: www.bestinseason.ie/whats-in-season/summer-salads/
