Iceberg lettuce
| Iceberg lettuce | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Iceberg lettuce prior to harvesting | |
| Species | Lactuca sativa |
| Breeder | Burpee Seeds and Plants |
| Origin | United States |
Iceberg lettuce, also called crisphead lettuce, is a common cultivar of lettuce. Created in 1894 in the United States by Burpee Seeds and Plants, it has since become a staple type of lettuce consumed globally.
Name
The iceberg lettuce received its name from its way of packaging for transport – initially, the heads were packaged on crushed ice.[1] It is sometimes called crisphead lettuce.[2]
History
Iceberg lettuce was cultivated in 1894 by Burpee Seeds and Plants,[1] which introduced it into their seed catalog the same year and marketed it with the quote, "there is no handsomer or more solid cabbage lettuce in cultivation".[3] In the United States in the early 20th-century, iceberg lettuce was grown in the summer at high altitudes in Colorado and Idaho, and in spring in Arizona and the Imperial Valley of California.[3] It quickly became the most common variety of lettuce produced in the Western United States, while the Boston Head lettuce remained the most popular in the Eastern United States.[3] In 1922, the Sawdey-Hunt Company became the biggest buyer of the lettuce. They then sold heads to hotel chains around the United States, most notably to Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts.[3] The cultivar is sought after for its mild flavor and crisp texture, and it is consumed internationally.[4]
Production
Iceberg lettuce matures faster in cooler temperatures, reaching prime age in around 60 days.[5] It is highly sensitive to hot temperatures, and it is recommended to harvest during the coldest time of the day.[6] Overly mature specimens have very firm and hard heads, while immature ones have loose heads, and are more prone to damage.[5] It is, however, highly perishable; it was the third-most lost produce in retail stores, a study in Sweden found.[7][5] The shelf life is often shortened due to improper packaging.[5] They are best suited to plastic wrap packaging, which lowers the risk of damage and keeps moisture outside.[8]
United States
The US state of California produced iceberg lettuce all year round, with stock peaking in May and June, and being lowest in December, January, and February. In these months, the majority of the nation's supply is provided by Arizona.[9] California had 114,000 acres (46,000 ha) of iceberg lettuce in 2009, of which the average yield was 20.7 short tons per acre (46 t/ha). In the state, cultivation for iceberg lettuce was most common in the Central Coast, South Coast, and Central Valley.[2]
Planting the iceberg lettuce in the midsummer period results in a harvest around 70 to 80 days later.[2] Planting in the cooler periods of late autumn and winter can result in a harvest over 130 days later.[2] Depending on the location, iceberg lettuce has been grown in silt loam and clay soil, although the latter needs appropriate drainage.[10] A majority of iceberg lettuce in California were planted with precision planters and pelleted seeds.[10] Californian iceberg lettuce is typically shipped around the United States and Canada, though some smaller quantities are also shipped to Europe.[9]
References
- ^ a b Chicago Tribune 2007.
- ^ a b c d Turini et al. 2011, p. 1.
- ^ a b c d Medley & Ellis 2016, p. 40.
- ^ Alemu & Oanh 2025, p. 1.
- ^ a b c d Alemu & Oanh 2025, p. 2.
- ^ Alemu & Oanh 2025, p. 3.
- ^ Eriksson, Strid & Hansson 2012, pp. 14–20.
- ^ Alemu & Oanh 2025, p. 9.
- ^ a b Turini et al. 2011, p. 6.
- ^ a b Turini et al. 2011, p. 2.
Works cited
- Alemu, Tolcha Techane; Oanh, Vu Thi Kim (2025). "Implications of Developmental Levels and Packaging Materials on the Quality of Iceberg Lettuce for Marketing System: A Review". International Journal of Food Science. 2025 (1). doi:10.1155/ijfo/5548305. ISSN 2356-7015. PMC 11932753. PMID 40129899.
- Eriksson, Mattias; Strid, Ingrid; Hansson, Per-Anders (2012). "Food losses in six Swedish retail stores: Wastage of fruit and vegetables in relation to quantities delivered". Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 68: 14–20. doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2012.08.001. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- "Iceberg lettuce". Chicago Tribune. July 4, 2007. Archived from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- Medley, Royal John; Ellis, Catherine H. (2016). "LETTUCE AND LANDSCAPES: An Illustrated History of Arizona's Row Crops and the Art They Inspired, 1920-1960". The Journal of Arizona History. 57 (1). Arizona Historical Society: 39–60. ISSN 0021-9053. JSTOR 43865449. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- Turini, Thomas; Cahn, Michael; Cantwell, Marita; Jackson, Louise; Koike, Steve; Natwick, Eric; Smith, Richard; Subbarao, Krishna; Takele, Etaferahu (2011). Iceberg Lettuce Production in California. University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. doi:10.3733/ucanr.7215. ISBN 978-1-60107-762-2. Retrieved January 8, 2026.