Latest News From California Lettuce & Leaf

Lettuce from California’s Salinas and Castroville regions is the focus for the next three months for Castroville-based Ocean Mist Farms.

The Packer is seeking input from California lettuce suppliers for the July 19 California lettuce and leaf special section.

Fresh fruit sales were up about 9% for the four-week period, while fresh vegetable sales were up 25%.

Celery is a rising star among organic produce as consumer appetites increase for the product segment.

Catch a few quick news updates from California grower-shippers and marketers of lettuce and other leafy greens.

Value-added items play an increasingly important role in California grower-shippers’ leaf and lettuce programs.

A springtime outbreak tied to romaine lettuce, along with erratic weather in California, rising freight rates and the usual competition from regional deals presented a challenge for California leaf and lettuce growers.

Food safety experts say there’s no cause for undue concern about the safety of California greens this summer, despite a foodborne illness outbreak in the spring attributed to romaine lettuce grown in Yuma, Ariz.

Ten years ago in July, the Sacramento-based California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement conducted its first official on-farm food safety audit.

A very wet winter, weather-disrupted plantings and reduced acreage have put the head lettuce market in a fairly solid position, grower-shippers say.

Tanimura & Antle debuted its PlantTape automated transplanting machine for lettuce this season and is already reaping a hearty return on its investment.

Business updates on companies featured in The Packer's California Lettuce and Leaf section

Organic produce continues to see sales increases, with organic lettuce and salad mixes one area of strong growth.