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You are here: / South Australian Food Centre / News / Food Talk magazine / Autumn 2010 / The sweet heart of lettuce
The sweet heart of lettuce
Swanport Harvest has found a sweet piece of earth where lettuces can grow all year ‘round.
After thirty years in the industry, Don and Kathy Ruggerio know a thing or two about growing lettuces.
They know that to grow them year ‘round you need a quality landholding with good climatic conditions and a steady access to water. To keep them fresh, you need a quality lettuce and quality packaging. And to maintain customer loyalty, you need to brand your product well.
The Ruggerios have got it right on all counts.
Their Murray Bridge based business, Swanport Harvest, is situated on the banks of the Murray River from where it draws water for irrigation. The business also has additional properties in different climatic zones to ensure the quality, continuity and consistency of their product.
Swanport Harvest says it has developed and perfected a better lettuce, Staycrisp Premium. Fresh cut iceberg lettuces are packed and vacuum chilled within minutes of harvest. This to-the-core snap-cooling process, along with the product's superior technology packaging dramatically increases the product's crispness, freshness and shelf life to in excess of two weeks. Importantly, lettuces can be harvested and delivered to the market within twenty four hours.
Don said the business had successfully branded its lettuce to ensure buyer loyalty.
“By producing a branded range of lettuce products and ensuring the highest quality possible, buyers are guaranteed a better product - one that stays crisper and fresher longer, and is more consistent. Best of all, brand recognition enables buyers to select the name they trust every time,” he said.
Swanport Harvest produces 6-7 million heads of their unique lettuces each year and plan to grow that number as they expand, according to William Allen, Sales Manager.
“We currently supply SA, the Northern Territory and parts of NSW, but we have the capability to supply nation wide.”
For more information
Contact
William Allen
p +61 419 822 298
e woodie@wildsalad.com.au
w www.staycrisp.com.au
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The South Australian Food Centre is a collaborative partnership between industry and government and has been established to grow a thriving and sustainable South Australian food industry through activities of the SA Food Strategy 2010-2015.