You will find Salad Greens and Kitchen Herbs at the Adelaide Showground Farmers Market every Sunday at Site #95-96

Produce: salad greens, kitchen herbs

Contact details

Sven and Judith Zehle both grew up in Germany and have always had  an interest in working outdoors.  Sven’s father was a gardening teacher whilst Judith grew up in the Germany countryside with a large vegetable garden, numerous fruit trees and a small forest nearby.

After moving to Australia, Sven’s father started to grow lettuces and herbs.  The Zehle family noticed there was not a great deal of salad mix in the Adelaide market and saw there was niche market  for salad greens and herbs as they were fast growing and in demand.

Judith explained.
“Over the past ten years competition has become very strong and as a smaller grower we can't keep up with the decreasing prices that are paid for salad mix. In order to survive we had to find a better option to sell our produce and farmers markets are coming to the rescue.”

After outgrowing their smaller farm in Longwood, the Zehle Family bought a 64 acre farm in Echunga. The flat land and good water supply in Echunga provides excellent conditions for growing fancy lettuces, herbs and bok choy.  The move gave the Zehle family an opportunity to diversify and grow organic vegetables such as turnips, beetroot, radishes and leeks.

The range of lettuces that Salad Greens and Kitchen Herbs sell include green and red oak, green butter and minuette, green and red baby cos, and red and green coral lettuce.  The range of herbs is extensive and most varieties are grown all year round, and include coriander, basil, dill, chives, watercress, curly parsley, Italian parsley, French parsley, mint, thyme, oregano, chard, rocket, mizuna, sage and snow pea leaves. Judith grows them from seed in a hothouse in pots. All herbs are grown without the use of pesticides.

Not long ago Sven started to plant the first bok choy and is having so much success that the number of seedlings has had to be constantly increased.

The lettuces and bok choy are pesticide- free during 6-8month of the year. During winter they use minimal spray practices on their crop. This guaranties fresh local produce all year round.

Produce is harvested and delivered 6 days a week directly to restaurants, greengrocers and some independent supermarkets. The passion for growing and bringing truly fresh produce to the local consumer encouraged the family to begin selling at the Adelaide Showground Farmers Market, the Hills Farmers Market and Willunga Farmers Market.