Is Baby Leaf Hemp the Next Big Salad Green?
Baby leaf hemp has potential as a high-value niche crop suitable for greenhouse production.
Photo courtesy of Cornell University
The passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, and with it the reclassification of industrial hemp to an agricultural commodity, has sparked an enormous amount of interest in the production and research into the many uses of the hemp plant. While much is known about hemp’s more traditional uses — such as grain, fiber, and oil — research at Cornell University has begun to uncover another promising use as a high-value, niche, baby leaf green.
Over the past two years, a series of experiments led by Master’s student Renyuan Mi has sought to understand the production requirements and sensory qualities of this novel baby leaf green.
Prior to the experiments, there was not any information on the flavor/texture or consumer attitudes toward baby leaf hemp. The final aspect of this research project was the creation of a detailed sensory analysis. To do this, 14 panelists were given samples from six baby leaf species (hemp, kale, romaine lettuce, butter lettuce, spinach, and arugula) and were asked to describe the taste, texture, aftertaste, and appearance of each.
Baby leaf hemp was found to have a relatively mild taste, with unique fruity and floral flavors, and a soft, slightly fuzzy texture. The texture was found to be quite different than the other baby leaf greens which, along with its unique flavor profile, makes it a great addition to salad blends.
To learn more details about the experiments, continue reading at GreenhouseGrower.com.
Subscribe Today For
