Backyard Farms adds large-format, greenhouse-grown romaine

Kingsville, Ontario-based Mastronardi Produce has launched a large-format, greenhouse-grown romaine lettuce under its Backyard Farms lettuce line. 

“We are the first greenhouse grower in North America to successfully cultivate a full and flavorful large-format romaine,” Peppe Bonfiglio, vice president of sales at Mastronardi Produce, said in a news release. “Romaine lettuce has been on the wish list of retailers for years. We are offering a product that is comparable in size to field-grown romaine but with all the perks of greenhouse-grown produce, including flavor, color, and consistency.”

Mastronardi Produce said it will package the romaine heads in a resealable two-count and club format.

“Large-format romaine is particularly challenging to grow because it thrives under a narrow threshold of conditions,” Bonfiglio said. “Our growers use a precise climate control system and monitor the heads multiple times a day to hone in on that perfect band of climate.”

The company said it will showcase the new offering at the Southeast Produce Council’s March 7-9 Southern Exposure event at booth No. 631.