In Germany lettuce from the open ground is harvested until November. Especially loved here is the crunchy fresh iceberg lettuce and the soft aromatic butter lettuce. Last year the Germans bought around 51,000 tonnes of iceberg lettuce and 16,000 tonnes of butter lettuce from inland cultivation. The German growers grow iceberg lettuce on 4,797 hectares, of which the largest part is in Niedersaschen: around two thirds of all German iceberg lettuce is grown here. Butter lettuce in Germany is grown in the open ground on 1,985 hectares. Rheinland-Pfalz is the state most butter lettuce is grown in, followed by Nordrhein-Westfalen and Bavaria.
Iceberg lettuce and butter lettuce consist of over 90% water and are therefore especially low in calories. They also contain valuable vitamins and minerals. The inner leaves of iceberg lettuce are especially crunchy. The lettuce can best be stored in the fridge. It can remain in here for up to three weeks with no problems. The outer leaves of head lettuce contains lots of vitamins. That's why they shouldn't be thoughtlessly be discarded, but eaten. At purchase the leaves should be crunchy and the head closed, if possible. Butter lettuce stays fresh longer when it's stored in a cool dark place.