Lettuce remains costlier than usual

Advertiser Staff and News Services

What's up with head lettuce these days, you ask, selling for nearly $2 a head?

The high price is a result of the weather in Arizona and California growing areas, which have been hit with cold that damaged crops, according to spokesmen for the produce industry.

Per-case prices for lettuce have nearly doubled to more than $50 for both head and romaine varieties.

Weather affected leaf and romaine lettuces earlier, and prices are still higher for those, although they've dropped considerably.

Head and romaine prices are expected to remain high for at least the next two weeks, until the Oxnard, Calif., area crop starts coming in.

Production in that area already has been delayed by weather problems.

This is an opportunity to try new kinds of greens or to substitute other kinds of dishes for basic tossed salads.

There are many alternatives, such as spinach salad made with a hot bacon vinaigrette.

Other options: Korean sesame watercress salad (O'ahu watercress is back in stores after a bout with a bug) made with sesame oil and soy sauce; Japanese pickled salads (check here for a Feb. 13 story on tsukemono and related treatments for greens); cole slaw made with cabbage and a light mayonnaise dressing.

Or try roasted vegetables (peppers, carrots, beans, etc. drizzled with a little olive oil and roasted at 400 degrees until softened and browned at the edges).