According to Katif.net, HaSalat (an amalgamation of the Hebrew words for 'lettuce' and 'salad') is one of the leading producers and marketers of chilled fresh leafy worm-free vegetables in Israel. Its bug-free lettuce heads are now being transported to five Jewish centers in the United States - Los Angeles, New Jersey, New York, Miami and Las Vegas - as well as England, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Russia and elsewhere.
The HaSalat–Alei Katif company was founded in Kfar Darom, Gush Katif 16 years ago. It was the first business in Israel to specialize in growing insect-free leafy vegetables.
During the expulsion of Jews from Gaza this past summer, the plant, the largest in Gush Katif, was transferred temporarily to the industrial zone of Sha’ar HaNegev. In a short time it succeeded in growing lettuce and other vegetables on an area of hundreds of acres in the western Negev.
Formerly, about 450 dunams in Gush Katif were covered with greenhouses that grew vegetables for HaSalat. Just in time for the Pesach holiday, the company has again reached 100% of its former production. Dozens of new workers from Sderot and Netivot have replaced many of the workers formerly employed in Gush Katif, who are now living in temporary housing sites and hotels around Israel.
HaSalat Export Manager Roni Ephraim said that his firm will export 100 tons of lettuce, with a value of $1.5 million dollars. The company aims to bring the fresh lettuce to the sales points abroad within 24 hours from the time it is picked.
The romaine lettuce being exported will be used as maror or bitter herbs, in ritual Passover seders across the world this Wednesday night. Maror is meant to be reminiscent of the bitterness of persecution during the Jewish people's slavery in Egypt, but is also related to times of bitter persecution throughout Jewish history.
The company is also exporting other vegetables used by various communities for the Passover seder, such as celery and spinach.