SHORTAGE. A DINNER SALAD AT A RESTAURANT CAN ALMOST BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT SOMETIMES, BUT MORE AND MORE IT’S GETTING HARD FOR RESTAURANTS TO FIND LETTUCE. AND WHEN THEY DO, HOW MUCH IT COSTS. THE LEAFY GREENS ON OUR PLATES USUALLY COME FROM SALINAS, CALIFORNIA. AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. BUT A SERIES OF PROBLEMS OUT WEST IS AFFECTING AVAILABILITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE WEATHER SITUATION CAUSED EXTRA WEEDS, WHICH ATTRACTS INSECTS WHICH CARRY THE VIRUS. AND SO PRODUCTION WAS WAY DOWN IN SALINAS THIS YEAR. BOB HARPER IS VICE PRESIDENT OF LA FREDO FRESH FOODS. IT SERVES THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST. THIS HAS BEEN TOP LETTUCE IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH. THE THE MARKET PRICE YESTERDAY AND LET US WAS THE HIGHEST THAT IT’S EVER BEEN. WE FEEL THAT IT HAS TOPPED OUT THERE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT SOME RELIEF FOR NEXT WEEK. BUT THAT RELIEF IS STILL WEEKS AWAY FROM ARRIVING AT RESTAURANTS WHICH HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO KEEP SALAD ITEMS AVAILABLE. THAT VERY HARD TIME FOR US TO GET THE LETTUCE. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHICH COMPANY YOU BUY FROM. WINS PIZZA AND STEAKHOUSE HAS LOCATIONS IN INDIANOLA AND NORWALK. THE RESTAURANT SAYS IT CAN’T EVEN GET LETTUCE FROM ITS SUPPLIERS RIGHT NOW. IF WE HAVE TO GO TO THE FAIRWAY TO LOCAL HERE AND THEY THEY WOULD GET 40 LETTERS WHEN WE NEED IT. HE’S KEEPING THE SALAD BAR OPEN FOR NOW. EVEN THOUGH IT COMES AT A COST TO THE BUSINESS. BUT THE SOURCE OF OUR LETTUCE IS ABOUT TO SHIFT SOUTH TO YUMA, ARIZONA, AND THAT IS A HOPEFUL SIGN FOR THE SUPPLY CHAIN. MOST OF THE THANKSGIVING PULLS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED AT THE SHIPPING POINT, SO THAT’LL HELP A LITTLE BIT AS WE GET INTO NEXT WEEK. BUT HOPEFULLY BY THE WEEK AFTER THAT, WE WILL SEE A LOT BETTER SITUATION WITH BOTH PRICING AND AVAILABILITY. WE REACHED OUT TO BOTH HY-VEE AND FAIRWAY AND BOTH GROCERS TELL US THEY DO HAVE LETTUCE AVAILABLE. ANDREW MOLLENBECK.
Lettuce shortage a headache for restaurants
Some restaurants are struggling to get lettuce at all, and what is available is selling for record prices. Relief could come in a few weeks.
A nationwide lettuce shortage is putting a new strain on restaurant owners, and the short supply and rising costs may continue for a few more weeks. The trouble comes from a tough growing season in Salinas, California, where lettuce is sourced at this time of year. But there is hope that conditions will improve when the growing season soon shifts to Arizona. “It’s a very hard time for us to get the lettuce,” said Winn Nguyen, a restauranteur who has locations in Indianola and Norwalk. “It doesn’t matter which company you buy from.”To keep his salad bar open at Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse, he’s been going to the local Fareway to buy lettuce himself.”This has been tough. Lettuce is at an all-time high,” said Bob Harper, vice of procurement Loffredo Fresh Foods. “The market price yesterday on lettuce was the highest it’s ever been.”Some suppliers and restaurants have been substituting other greens for their typical offerings.But the outlook is expected to improve when lettuce from Arizona is ready in a week or two.
INDIANOLA, Iowa —
A nationwide lettuce shortage is putting a new strain on restaurant owners, and the short supply and rising costs may continue for a few more weeks.
The trouble comes from a tough growing season in Salinas, California, where lettuce is sourced at this time of year. But there is hope that conditions will improve when the growing season soon shifts to Arizona.
“It’s a very hard time for us to get the lettuce,” said Winn Nguyen, a restauranteur who has locations in Indianola and Norwalk. “It doesn’t matter which company you buy from.”
To keep his salad bar open at Winn’s Pizza & Steakhouse, he’s been going to the local Fareway to buy lettuce himself.
“This has been tough. Lettuce is at an all-time high,” said Bob Harper, vice of procurement Loffredo Fresh Foods. “The market price yesterday on lettuce was the highest it’s ever been.”
Some suppliers and restaurants have been substituting other greens for their typical offerings.
But the outlook is expected to improve when lettuce from Arizona is ready in a week or two.
