Microwavable stir fry and its barbecued equivalent is becoming the new taste on the block, and opening up potentially a far wider market for what are already being described as oriental vegetables, according to Jim Juby technologist at Tozer Seeds.

"In particular pak choi, which is a key component of prepacks, is enjoying a surge," he explained. "We have had an incredible amount of interest from big growers both in the UK and in Spain. Proving the point he adds that Tozer IBERICA recorded five times the amount of seed sales last autumn to cover requirements of a crop grown between September and January."

The fast growing crop, which takes just over a month to reach maturity from planting and is available year round, has already become well established over the past 15 years. First in supplying a niche demand from the restaurant trade and Chinese sector of the UK population. Then making substantial progress by being used in vast quantities as part of the baby leaf range of prepared salad.

Juby stressed however that the increasing interest in stir fry by the multiples has meant that the emphasis has shifted to providing a whole headed product, which while still having a dark green leaf has a fleshy white stem, rather than being historically pale green.

"Up to now areas which have not been taken in consideration have been the shape of a full head, and bolting, because the plant was not allowed to grow to its full size,” he explained. “And to achieve this we need new varieties."

Last year Tozer began co-operative trials with the similarly privately owned Japanese based seed company Tokita, with whom it has worked for some five years. Its seed catalogues reflect the massive range of pak choi hybrids, many of which are fitted to meet the new specifications. Many as one would expect from oriental vegetables have exotic names like Chopsuey Green and Shungiku.

"We are already testing smaller plants with broader, more spoon shaped leaves at the base, and looking further forward we believe there may be an opportunity to offer customers a red leafed variety," added seed breeder Jamie Claxton.

And while he describes pak choi as being reinvented, he also believes there are opportunities for other associated products in which Tozer already has a wealth of experience.

"We could also be on the edge of an explosion in the same way that the prepacked prepared baby leaf market has expanded to carry on an enormous range of products of different shapes, tastes and colours, " said Juby enthusiastically.

"Stir Fry already includes many similarly established products mizuna, choy sum, chilli peppers and baby corn. But there are the whole range of mustards and other specialities which are waiting to be added."

"After all customer demand is always changing and even expanding. In a reverse situation calabrese began as a stir fry product, but the British turned it into a main stream vegetable for Sunday lunch."

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