Cold temperatures in the California and Arizona desert growing regions are causing ice to form on lettuce crops. While no immediate quality impact is expected, Markon Cooperative’s quality assurance inspectors are actively monitoring for ice-related challenges in the coming days.

The lettuce market has improved and is dropping in price. We are now into the new desert harvest. Varieties of Iceberg, green leaf, red leaf, Romaine and Butter lettuce are all reported in good, steady supply.

After a period of low volume and high costs, lettuce is now readily available. Customer demand will certainly pick up during the approaching holidays with salads on the dinner menu. Lettuce is a staple and always ideal for ad promoting.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced the release of a proposed revision to Subpart E (Agricultural Water) of the Produce Safety Rule Dec. 2, and while that may mean change is coming for some in the produce industry that's not the case for key growers in Arizona and California.

The LGMA food-safety programs in Arizona and California have conducted an initial review of FDA’s proposal and have determined that the LGMA requirements appear to meet and exceed what is in the proposed new rule. 

As the lettuce harvest season shifts to Yuma, AZ, iceberg supplies have begun to stabilize and prices are falling off recent peaks. However, Romaine prices have continued to climb as perhaps growers underestimated demand for the popular leafy green.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local partners, is investigating a multistate outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 infections associated with spinach consumption.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has proclaimed November 2021 as Arizona Leafy Greens Month. Through this proclamation he called upon all residents to recognize the Arizona leafy greens industry during the month of November for consistently producing an abundance of nutritious and safe leafy greens.