Florida European offers lettuce specialties to suit any palate. Types include: frisee, bibb, radicchio, and treviso. Offer a variety of lettuces for consumers. Leaf lettuce appeals to consumers interested in variety and color in salads. Most retailers offer a selection of lettuce types. When doing so, make sure all are clearly labeled, especially if grouped side by side. Lettuce is available year-round in fairly consistent supplies.

Lettuce can help promote other salad items because it rarely is served alone and is easy to prepare. Feature salad tie-in items such as tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, celery and carrots or any combination thereof in ads with lettuce for a specific price. Offer salad recipes, dressings and croutons as part of the lettuce display. Promote lettuce leaves as deli sandwich toppers. Try a cross-merchandising promotion for bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches.

Origin:

• California
• Florida
• Texas

Packaging:

• Bibb
• 10-lb. flat cartons/crates
• 5-lb. baskets/cartons, 12 quart
• 5-lb. baskets, greenhouse
• Looseleaf (red leaf and green leaf)
• 25-lb. cartons/crates
• 20-lb. 4/5-bushel crates
• 14-lb. 1 1/9-bushel crates
• 10-lb. baskets/cartons, 24 quart
• 3-lb. cartons
• 2-lb. cartons

Storage & Handling:

• Temperature: 34 to 36 F, 1.1 to 2.2 C
• Relative humidity: 90 to 100 percent
• Mist: lightly (do not mist wrapped heads)
• Typical shelf life: 14 to 21 days; fresh-cut, 14 days
  Ethylene sensitive (Do not store or transport ethylene-sensitive items with commodities that produce ethylene.)