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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Romaine Lettuce |
| Scientific name | Lactuca sativa |
| Family / Genus | Asteraceae / — |
| Produce category | Leafy Green |
| Produce subcategory | Lettuce |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4646 |
| PLU — organic | 94646 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_43604 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 75.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Parris Island Cos | 30% | The classic Romaine, known for its upright, dark green, crisp leaves and excellent flavor. It’s a reliable and widely grown variety with good disease resistance. |
| Green Towers | 18% | A tall, vigorous Romaine with dark green leaves. Valued for its excellent heat tolerance and slow-bolting characteristics, making it suitable for longer growing seasons. |
| Jericho | 12% | Produces large, heavy heads with dark green, crisp leaves. Highly tolerant to heat and tip burn, making it a popular choice for warmer climates and extended harvests. |
| Coastal Star | 12% | A modern hybrid known for its large, uniform, and heavy heads with thick, dark green leaves. Offers strong disease resistance, high yield, and excellent post-harvest quality. |
| Little Gem | 8% | A miniature Romaine, forming compact, sweet, and exceptionally crisp heads. Prized for its tender texture and rich flavor, often used for individual servings or gourmet salads. |
| Cimmaron | 4% | An attractive Romaine with red-tinged outer leaves that deepen in color with sun exposure. It offers a crisp texture and good flavor, adding visual appeal to salads. Good heat tolerance. |
| Dark Green Romaine | 3% | A general category for various cultivars bred for deeper green color, often indicating higher nutrient content. Typically offers good crispness and classic Romaine flavor. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 32°F.
- Freezing point: 31.1°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 4 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.05 µL/kg·h typical (0–0.1) |
| Sensitivity class | high |
| Sensitivity threshold | 0.1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Strictly avoid co-storage with ethylene-producing commodities.
Mixed-load compatibility
Ethylene-sensitive, high water content. Keep separate from strong odor emitters and ethylene producers.
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? Yes
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Stable to slightly increasing, driven by health consciousness, convenience of pre-cut options, and foodservice demand.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.6 |
| Income elasticity | 0.2 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Standard Romaine | 100% |
Pack sizes
- 24-count case (whole heads/hearts)
- 12-count case (whole heads/hearts)
- 5 oz bag
- 10 oz bag
- 2 lb bag (chopped)
- 20 lb bulk carton (chopped)
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
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