Lettuce Talk

There has been a small uproar on social media lately regarding the price in the local stores of lettuce. Small, wilted stuff that you know has traveled a few thousand miles to get here.

People are saying it is because of the romaine shortage.

But really, it is just an excuse the middle man and the stores are using to falsely inflate the price.

The only lettuce that should cost more because of the romaine shortage is romaine. Is any of that inflated cost trickling down to the romaine grower who now has to dump tons of lettuce? Doubt it.

In the seed potato industry, when there is a shortage of one variety of potato, it is only that one variety that costs a little more, because it is in demand.

I don’t buy lettuce in the winter. Salads are a summer thing.

One more thing. You know that steak or hamburger you bought for your dinner? The price of that has steadily increased over the last few decades. We just shipped our beef cattle and averaged $1.80/lb. Now back up 40 years and those same cattle would have fetched us $1.00/lb. That’s is only an .80 cent or 80% increase in 40 years. Forty years, people! While the cost to produce that beef or the potatoes and vegetables that go with it has gone up 200% and the  price you pay for that beef in the store has increased 170%.

I guess all I’m trying to say is all these price increases are not really getting back down the line to the producer of the food.

People, speak up with your wallets. Buy local. Eat seasonal.