Food Service

At Lyttle Leaves, we take pride in delivering fresh, locally grown, unwashed baby leaves with the quality and consistency that comes from over 40 years of experience. As part of a family-owned business, we’ve been supplying the food service industry and other commercial customers with top-grade seasonal vegetables for decades. Our parent company’s roots in farming run deep, and we bring that heritage to every order, ensuring that the produce reaching your kitchen is grown with care and dedication, and is of premium quality.

Fresh, Homegrown, and Customised for You

Our seasonal vegetables are harvested at peak freshness, then prepared and packed in sizes tailored to your kitchen’s needs. We can work with you to create customised pack sizes that optimise your storage, prep time, and usage, making our products both convenient and cost-effective.

The Advantage of a Family Business

Being a family-run business means we can offer flexibility that larger suppliers often can’t. We’re responsive to your unique requirements, which allows us to adapt quickly, whether that’s adding more of a particular vegetable during its peak season or accommodating special delivery schedules. This adaptability helps ensure that your business has the freshest produce, in just the right quantities, when you need it most. We are also open to trialling new products and using our knowledge to grow different varieties of vegetables.

Why Choose Lyttle Leaves?

Choosing Lyttle Leaves can offer distinct benefits, especially if you’re prioritising quality, sustainability, freshness, and flavour in baby leaves. Here are some of the key reasons why Lyttle Leaves stand out:

1. Exceptional Freshness and Flavour

Harvested Fresh: Lyttle Leaves is known for a commitment to harvesting and delivering leaves at peak freshness. At peak season, we aim to harvest at the coolest times of the day i.e. very early morning, later in the evening. The shorter time between harvest and delivery helps maintain the natural flavour and textures, providing a crisp, vibrant product – which stay in your fridge for much longer than the washed alternative.

2. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Practices

Eco-Conscious Methods: Lyttle Leaves focus on eco-friendly practices, such as sustainable farming techniques, minimising pesticide use, and using renewable energy sources. These methods are often better for the environment and reduce the product’s overall carbon footprint. We provide our leaves unwashed. Pre-washing large batches of greens at a commercial level uses significant amounts of water, which can be wasteful, especially if the washing is repeated at home or in a food service setting. By buying unwashed leaves and rinsing them just before consumption, consumers can use only the amount of water they truly need.
Recyclable Packaging: Lyttle Leaves uses recyclable packaging, which can make a big difference for the environment.

3. Transparency and Traceability

Source Transparency: Knowing exactly where your greens come from is a priority for many customers, and at Lyttle Leaves, we can tell you the exact field your leaves grew in – you can even come and visit the fields!

4. Nutritional Quality

Excellent Nutritional Profile: Because we prioritise quality and freshness, Lyttle Leaves’ greens might retain high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants compared to those stored for longer periods or processed leaves.

5. Supporting Local and Smaller Businesses

Community-Oriented: Many consumers appreciate knowing their choices will contribute to local or smaller-scale operations, which supports a strong agri-food industry in Northern Ireland, and can often provide more personalised customer service.

6. Unique Product Offerings and Custom Mixes

Custom Blends: Lyttle Leaves are willing to trying unique or curated blends of greens that aren’t available in Northern Ireland currently. Custom mixes can enhance specific flavour profiles and appeal to consumers looking for something beyond standard offerings. Get in touch with us – we’d love to help.
Limited Editions and Seasonal Greens: Lyttle Leaves can trial a seasonal products or grow limited-edition greens specifically for your business. This adds variety and excitement, allowing consumers to try new flavours.

Lyttle Leaves can be a strong choice for anyone looking for fresh, nutritious, locally and sustainably grown leaves from a company that values quality and transparency. Supporting Lyttle Leaves can mean investing in a higher standard of greens that benefits both the consumer and the environment.