Consumers in Belgium are increasingly turning to alternative salad varieties, according to Lut De Bruyne of REO Veiling auction, causing a decline in volume sales of standard lettuce heads.
“For greenhouse-grown lettuce, we estimate that the trend of declining production volumes handled by the REO Veiling will continue,” Mr De Bruyne said. “In 2007, we still had almost 75m lettuce heads, but by 2009 that figure had dropped to some 69.7m and is set for a further drop this year.”
The reason for this decline is the gradual growing popularity of alternative salads, according to Mr De Bruyne.
“A good example of this trend is illustrated by baby leaf lettuce,” he said. “In 2007, we handled only 12,700 units. By 2009, the volume had grown to approximately 17,000 units.”
Other varieties, including Lollo Rossa, are displaying this very same trend. “Between 2007 and 2009, volumes of Lollo Bionda stayed at roughly the same level of 2m pieces, but Lollo Rossa grew from 1.5m in 2007 to some 1.8m in 2009,” he said. “Oak leaf lettuce also grew from under 1m to slightly over 1m. Consumers all over Europe are increasingly opting for alternative varieties of salad.”
