Uncertainty reigns in the lettuce and leafy greens sector right now, mostly due to mismatches in production which, as has been the case with other horticultural crops, has been caused by the atypical weather conditions this season.
"The lettuce campaign is being chaotic, comparable to a year with frost or floods because of the imbalances in both production and quality," explains Javier Soto, president of Proexport's Iceberg Lettuce Department.
"So far, the harvest has been carried out two to three weeks in advance after starting abruptly in late December, and it is still very difficult to carry out the normal programs agreed with the distribution chains. Besides, we are suffering plenty of discards due to poor quality."
According to the expert, prices have remained even below the production costs during most of the campaign, something that could change in the coming weeks, although it is still uncertain. "The drop in temperatures in recent days has been stabilising the production. We know that there will be a considerable production gap soon, but we cannot predict exactly when," points out Javier Soto.