Both this week and last, there has been an abundant supply of iceberg lettuce on the market; a result not only of the advances in the seasons (due to the warm autumn), but also because of fears about the intense rains forecast in Murcia, Spain's largest lettuce producer.
"The sector has made lettuce available to the market a week in advance after heavy rainfall was forecast for the entire weekend, which will make the harvesting tasks very difficult," explains Javier Soto, president of Proexport's Iceberg Lettuce department.
"At the moment there is availability of product and production capacity, but from Friday, if the weather forecasts are correct, there will be serious complications to be able to supply lettuce, because there would be virtually no output between Thursday and Monday or Tuesday of the following week, warns Javier Soto.
According to the president of the sector, in the last two weeks lettuce prices have been quite low across Europe, even below production costs.
"The situation could change in the coming weeks. There is uncertainty about the availability of Iceberg lettuce in the weeks before Christmas."