Lettuce Prices on the Decline
Central Valley, CA-
By ANUK Staff
2.13.13
The recent spike in lettuce prices appears to be heading back towards normalcy.
Freezing temperatures and heavy January rains damaged crops in Arizona and California causing costs of romaine, leaf, iceberg, and other lettuce varieties to run-up this month.
"That made it a scarce, high market," said Jay Rosenstein, co-owner at William Rosenstein and Sons, a produce wholesaler on Keyser Avenue in Scranton.Some retailers charged close to $3 a head for leaf and romaine lettuce varieties this past weekend, according to the Scranton Times Tribune.
Two weeks ago, Mr. Rosenstein was selling a 24-head carton of iceberg lettuce for $36 to $42. Now, prices are at $20 to $22 for the same quantities.
"I'm at half the price I was two weeks ago," he said.
Gerrity's Supermarket noticed a decline in prices as supplies became more available, Produce Specialist Enrico Galassi said.
"We have adjusted some of our pricing down," Mr. Galassi said. "It is sort of behind us."
He said the price of a pound of romaine lettuce at Gerrity's peaked recently at $1.99 and is now about $1.70.
Quality issues may continue to impact lettuce supplies temporarily, Mr. Galassi said.
Most grocery shoppers probably will begin to see prices start to diminish at the retail level soon, Mr. Rosenstein predicted.
"You won't see a reflection until next week's pricing," he said.
Scranton Times Tribune
