Savoy cabbages grown in Pembrokeshire are on sale in Asda's Welsh stores this week as local growers expand their range to meet the needs of a new contract.

It is the first season that farmers supplying Asda through the Haverfordwest-based growers' co-operative, Puffin Produce, have planted savoys and spring greens.

Puffin's chairman, Richard Hayman, who planted his six-acre crop at Norton Farm, Rosemarket, in mid-July was the first to start harvesting.

The crop, he said, fitted in well with his main potato enterprise.

"Our whole system revolves around growing potatoes. Savoys and winter vegetables fit in with that rotation.

"The growing conditions are ideal because there is good fertility and it is the time of the year when we are able to get a second crop in."

There were also benefits in terms of spreading fixed costs, he said. "The more Pembrokeshire products we can get into Welsh stores through Puffin the better, because it means we can spread our machinery and labour costs more efficiently.''

Puffin is growing 70 acres of both crops to supply Asda's Welsh stores between October and March. The co-operative now supplies all 11 varieties of potatoes on sale in these stores.

Puffin's managing director, Martin Cocks, said this was in keeping with the retailer's focus on regionality. "There are still opportunities for other products and over the next few months we will be looking at the viable options of some other lines that the Welsh consumer would enjoy.''

Puffin producers are experienced at growing cauliflowers and found cabbages and spring greens to be a similar crop.

"They need constant attention to stay on top of pests and diseases, but there weren't too many problems with either of these,'' said Richard Hayman.