British-grown vegetable will be available until the end of March
Winter brassica Kalettes has returned to retail shelves and will be available nationwide until the end of March.
George Read, production director at Lincolnshire grower Staples Vegetables, said: “We are very excited about this season with our Kalettes harvest already underway. Improved growing conditions and expanded production provide a very positive outlook for the months to come”.
Launched in 2011, this cross between curly kale and Brussels sprouts has carved out a niche among food enthusiasts. “We have been growing this crop in collaboration with seed company Tozer for over a decade now. It’s been great to see Kalettes becoming a British winter staple during that time,” Read continued.
Staples Vegetables is the primary producer of Kalettes in the UK, supplying them to major retailers such as Sainsbury’s, M&S, Waitrose, and Morrisons.
“While Kalettes are seasonal, that’s part of their charm. Our consumers recognise the value and freshness of seasonal produce. Every year, they celebrate the arrival of Kalettes to the stores but then naturally they are sad to see it go from the shelves as the season ends”, Read said.
To address the challenges of seasonality, seed company Tozer is focusing breeding efforts on developing new earlier-maturing Kalettes. “Extending the harvest window, is now our goal”, said David Rogers, the company’s commercial director. “We want to expand the time frame for consumers to enjoy this delicious vegetable. it will be great to see how greater availability will impact consumer demand in the coming years.”
According to Tozer, Kalettes are not only a seasonal delight but also a powerhouse of nutrition, being rich in vitamins C and K, high fibre and packed with antioxidants. They are also versatile and can be roasted, sauteed, grilled, or added raw to salads.
Outside the UK, the vegetable is also gaining popularity in the US, Europe and Australia, where demand and availability continues to grow.
