Lettuce shortage hits Pittsburgh
“It is affecting everybody from grocery stores to restaurants,” said John McClelland, chief operating officer for Paragon Foods, a produce supplier to about 800 local restaurants, hospitals and schools. “It’s a more volatile market on leafies than we usually see.”
The price of a box of 24 heads of iceberg lettuce that would typically cost about $20 or $25 in Pittsburgh shot to $65. That price has since dropped to about $50, but will still take weeks to fall to more normal levels, said Mr. McClelland. Broccoli prices have largely returned to normal, he said, but cauliflower is still elevated.
Locally grown lettuce, however, seems to be doing just fine. So says farmer John Varner of Stone Church Acres in Finleyville, Washington County, which grows heritage varieties such as Black Seeded Simpson as well as red and green leaf lettuce and romaine for the farm’s community-supported agriculture subscribers and customers at farmers markets.
source: post-gazette.com
