This Nov. 20, 2018 file photo shows romaine lettuce in Simi Valley, Calif. A shortage of lettuce is driving prices up at the grocery store and in restaurants. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Mark J. Terrill, File
The cost of lettuce is spiking amid a shortage that’s also leading some restaurants to temporarily stop offering leafy greens on their menus.
Wholesale produce distributors say demand is exceeding supply of iceberg and romaine lettuce, and pricing pressures are expected to continue throughout the month.
Restaurants Canada COO Kelly Higginson says a major lettuce-growing area in California was hit by some kind of virus, after a year that’s already been rife with difficulties thanks to heat and drought.
She says as a result, boxes of lettuce have in some cases quadrupled in price, leading some restaurants to pull lettuce-based offerings from their menus.
Fast-food chain Subway says lettuce is temporarily unavailable at some of its restaurants, and anticipates supply will improve in late November.
In a tweet last week, Swiss Chalet’s Canadian division said due to the industry-wide shortage, its garden and Caesar salads are not available, and items that normally contain lettuce, like burgers, will come without lettuce for the time being.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2022.
