May 2, 2017 3 min read

These are not the salad days for the lettuce industry.

Contrary weather conditions have created a nationwide lettuce shortage the past few weeks, affecting romaine, iceberg and non-organic red and green leaf lettuce. Supplies of broccoli and cauliflower are diminished as well.

Excessive rain along the California coast – where there had been a two-year drought – and unseasonable warmth in Yuma County, Ariz., are blamed for the shortages. Much of the nation’s lettuce is grown in these regions, and the shortages are costing grocery stores and restaurants, which are being passed to the consumer.

A headline on an April 19 article at bloomberg.com reads: “The West Coast salad shortage could last until May.” Which it has.

“Mother Nature plays havoc at times,” said Jeff Duritza, owner of Shop ‘n Save in Canonsburg. “This is usually a tough time for (lettuce).”

He said the shortage has been noticeable the past two or three weeks, but it has not adversely affected his store. Yet, it has had an effect.

“We’ve been OK. We had booked some from some suppliers in March, but it’s pricey and the quality is not as good as it normally is.”

He said he heard of iceberg lettuce selling for $3 a head, although his store currently has it on sale for $1 apiece. “All leafs are high,” he added, going for as much as $3.99.

Duritza will attend a meeting today that may provide an update on the situation. He doesn’t anticipate the shortage to be long term.

“Once the weather improves in California, lettuce will grow fairly fast.”

The lettuce scenario at Brodak’s Shop ‘n Save in Carmichaels is similar. “We’ve had suppliers cut some orders to all stores, but nothing major. Outside of that, it really hasn’t affected us,” said Linda Price, the produce manager.

She said “prices are on the rise,” that head lettuce has gone from $1.99 to $2.29, and that cauliflower and broccoli are up. “Cauliflower was $3.99 and is now $4.99. But I’ve seen worse.

“Once supplies build up, prices may go down.”

Price said one of its suppliers, Fresh Express, is not making shredded lettuce until May 14.

One independent grocer outside Washington is selling head lettuce at two for $5 and cauliflower at $5.49 a head.

Giant Eagle likewise has been affected. Dick Roberts, spokesman for the regional chain, said in a prepared statement: “Like many retailers, we have experienced slight price fluctuations and limited product availability as a result of the national lettuce shortage. We will continue to work closely with our supply partners in an effort to minimize the impact to our customers in the coming weeks.”

The chain has six local locations: South Strabane Township, Peters Township, McDonald, Bentleyville, Finleyville and Belle Vernon.

Other areas are feeling a greater pinch, according to a report in newsmax.com. Quoting local newspaper sources, it said a store in Manhattan was selling a head of iceberg for $5.99 and romaine hearts for $7.99; the price per case of romaine and other lettuces had more than tripled in the Chicago area; and a head of iceberg skyrocketed from 98 cents to $2.99.

Healthy price hikes for healthy food.