Valerianella locusta seems to be the salad green that has a hobby of collecting names. In the German speaking part of Switzerland it's generally known as Nüsslisalat. It grows like a weed in the winter months and is delicious, making the most wonderful winter salads.

Normally at this time of year I go over the border to Germany and buy it by the sack full. There are many a farm shop that sell these little leaves. It's quite expensive and labor intensive to clean however the end result is very much worth it.

During lockdown this year, my normal trips to buy Feld Salat as it's called in south Germany, haven't been possible, so I've had too look elsewhere. The problem is the Nüsslisalat in Swiss supermarkets is awful, limp, tasteless and expensive. I assume it's grown here using some form of Dutch aquaponic system given the lack of flavor, substance (and soil!) on the leaves.

So does anyone have any tips where to get some decent quality Nüsslisalat? I've tried a greengrocer wholesaler with the same result. Surprisingly, the best quality stuff I've found here has been the bog standard packs Aldi! Still not on a par with what can be bought in Germany but at least the leaves are robust and reasonably tasty.

Lidl They usually have both the bio unwashed one, and the pre-washed one.

I get it from the local farm shop, tons of it and not very expensive.

It’s a pain to wash but tastes lovely.

In Italy it's known as something that you feed to livestock and shouldn't be seen near a plate.

Another vote for Lidl - last lot we got was nice small leaves, perfectly washed.

Last lot from Coop was more like spinach and full of grit

Entirely disagree, as an Italian.

Insalata formentino, or sometimes (more rarely) insalata di valeriana is VERY popular in Piemonte (where I'm from), and commonly eaten with bresaola. Also, it's often fed to louder children (allegedly has a calming effect). I was fed loads of this as a child; wonder why

May be it's a North/South Italy thing? (Or just my wife's relatives in the South who said that, laughing, when served a dish of it when on a visit here).
They are commercial vegetable growers.

The herb with the calming effect has a different name - it's Valeriana Officinalis. The salad one is Valerianella Locusta and does not appear to have any effects of that nature.

I'm sure it tastes nice, fresh from a farm but I refuse to buy salads in bags as they always seem to have that smell like they've been in the bag too long and are on the way to going rotten.

There's a few north-south challenges over food

Try feeding a southerner polenta... or worse, white polenta... and see how they react! (I hear that too has been referred to as animal feed )

Similarly, try putting sugar into cheese (cannoli) - and the northerners will balk...

Thanks for that tip, I'll give it a go. Already been surprised at the gulf in quality from Aldi compared to Coop or Migros, and at half the price too!

Tried all the farm shops around here, just cheese, milk, potatoes, honey or half a calf for sale

I envisaged this problem coming so put a patch out in the garden. Unfortunately I set it too late in the year and haven't been able to cut any yet.

I’m lucky to live in a region where there is a huge amount of produce grown so have an abundance of fresh fruit and veg available.

I can't agree with that. I have had it served in some very good restaurants. At home I add diced bacon, diced apple, onions (spring when available) and pine seeds with an oil and vinegar dressing. Delicious.

I agree. Apart from the plastic waste it has been industrially cleaned with chlorinated water and other chemicals. All supposedly harmless???

I buy mine from Mion in Lugano.

Polenta is delicious (I'm a polenta eater as our neighbours fondly call us ), can I have some?

@OP,

Nusslisalat is everywhere. Try Farmy if you haven't seen any in stores? They deliver the next day practically.
But of course, you'd probably have to order more things from them.

One thing I really miss for salad, soups and sauces is watercress. People say use rocket but it's not the same thing.