UNITY — Shocked by the price of lettuce in food stores? You are not alone.
A photo on social media shared more than 800 times showed a case of lettuce in Saskatoon priced at $137.99.
A combination of change of growing season, imports from California impaired by drought and a virus that destroyed many lettuce crops there is leaving grocers either not having the popular produce in stock either because of cost or lack of availability.
The morning of Nov. 17, both AG Foods and Delta Co-op in Unity had a good supply of lettuce on the shelves, although the price is higher than what consumers are accustomed to, as a result of these reasons.
Delta Co-op had a poster located by their lettuce section explaining what some of their challenges have been in keeping both the product on the shelves as well as pricing concerns.
Unity Grocery Manager Amanda Roth says, “It is not that we can’t get it but we can’t always get it or are short shipped due to reduced supplies. We have been told the current supply coming out of California will now be sourced from different states, like Arizona for example.”
We talked to Tammy Lauinger, owner/operator of Unity’s Hollyhock’s Greenhouse, as she is often referred to and relied on up as the “grow expert.” Lauinger said, “It is possible to grow lettuce indoors in winter, however you will need grow lights to do so. There are also grow tower options as natural light in winter is not enough.”
Lauinger adds, “Lettuce germination is only three days. I have not been asked yet about seeds and home-grown lettuce however I suspect that Christmas presents this year might incorporate grow lights and seeds. I am able to get seeds all year long.
“Food insecurity is here to stay and right now it just happens to be lettuce, but there will always be something it seems. I think people are becoming more resilient to issues,” says the Hollyhock’s owner
At least people's sense of humor hasn't been lost on this produce predicament with one Twitter post stating, "I worry that the forthcoming lettuce shortage is just the tip of the iceberg, but let's not get ahead of ourselves."
