Baby-leaf salad green production guide for western Washington

Abstract

Lettuce is the top-grossing fresh market vegetable crop in the United States, with salad mixes featuring baby-leaf greens becoming increasingly popular among consumers who desire to eat healthy, convenient food. Growers in western Washington may produce salad greens throughout the year, using season-extension techniques such as row covers, low tunnels, and high tunnels during the winter.This production guide is for growers in western Washington who want to produce baby-leaf salad greens. This guide discusses the selection, growing, harvesting, and processing of baby-leaf greens, as well as related food safety concerns, all of which can present unique challenges. This guide also describes specific crops commonly grown for baby-leaf salads, and the pros and cons of each.