Produce Briefs...
Calamondin Limes
The Calamondin lime, scientific name, X Citrofortunella mitis & Citrus microcarpa, is also known as the lime orange, Chinese orange or Calamondin orange.
Salanova® Lettuces
Salanova® lettuce is a full-sized variety developed for the baby lettuce market. Botanically these varieties are scientifically known as Lactuca sativa.
Pinkglow™ Pineapple
Pinkglow™ pineapples are small to medium fruits with an oval to cylindrical shape.
Description/Taste
Iceberg lettuce is medium to large in size, averaging 25-30 centimeters in diameter, and is spherical in shape, similar to cabbage. The firm head is tightly packed with broad, thick, and crisp leaves that are concentrated with a high-water content. The leaves vary in color depending on the particular cultivar, but the outer leaves are typically light green while the inner leaves range from pale yellow to a translucent white. Iceberg lettuce is crunchy and juicy with a mild, sweet flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Iceberg lettuce is available year-round.
Current Facts
Iceberg lettuce, botanically classified as Lactuca sativa, is the name given to dozens of cultivars of lettuce, all of which are adapted to specific planting regions and time periods and belong to the Asteraceae family. Iceberg lettuce is one of the only lettuce varieties that does not occur in red form as well as green. Iceberg lettuce that is developed for supermarket standards is packed in the field into cartons and then immediately oxygen deprived, and vacuum cooled in cold rooms to remove field heat. This eliminates the opportunity for the lettuce to quickly break down. Iceberg lettuce is favored for its long storage capabilities, versatility in culinary applications, and crunchy texture.
Nutritional Value
Iceberg lettuce is a good source of potassium, iron, calcium, fiber and vitamins A, C, and K.
Applications
Iceberg lettuce is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as braising and stir-frying. It is most well-known for its use in a cold wedge salad with Roquefort or blue cheese dressings, but it can also be shredded as a garnish, layered in sandwiches, used as a lettuce cup for fillings such as taco meat, shrimp, or chicken, or used to wrap burgers for a low-carb main dish. When cooked, Iceberg lettuce can be lightly braised or chopped and sautéed into a stir-fry, used similarly to cabbage. Iceberg lettuce pairs well with herbs such as basil, mint, and flat leaf parsley, lemon, honey, tomatoes, shallots, green onions, chives, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, pork, fish, shrimp, grilled chicken, and a classic vinaigrette of olive oil, dried herbs, and cider vinegar. The leaves will keep over a week when stored wrapped in a damp paper towel in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Originally known as Crisphead lettuce due to its shape and texture, Iceberg lettuce was the first variety to be successfully transported across the United States. Before the transportation of Iceberg, lettuce was a local item that would be consumed where it was grown due to its short shelf life. In California, growers discovered that Iceberg lettuce could be covered in crushed ice and shipped across the country without the lettuce wilting. Known as the “Fresh Express,” Bruce Church is credited with the idea of shipping lettuce and Iceberg became the new popular name for the ice-covered lettuce.
Geography/History
Iceberg lettuce was developed from the French Crisphead lettuce, Batavia, by W. Atlee Burpee & Co. in 1894. It was originally named for its ice white color and crunchy texture, but its namesake evolved over the next half-century to reflect its icy method of shipment on the Trans Atlantic railroad. In the mid-20th century, Iceberg lettuce became a symbol of America's rapidly industrializing agricultural system as the Whirlpool Corporation developed controlled and modified atmospheres and packaging, giving Iceberg lettuce a greater shelf-life. This technological advance allowed for Iceberg lettuce to become one of the most important commercial lettuces worldwide. Today Iceberg lettuce is widely available and can be found at supermarkets, farmers markets, and specialty grocers in North America, Central America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Home & Away - Old Town | San Diego CA | 619-886-1358 |
| Crackheads | Carlsbad CA | 760-450-6939 |
| Chiefs Burgers & Brew | Solana Beach CA | 858-864-6965 |
| Lil Piggy's | Coronado CA | 619-522-6890 |
| The Crack Shack-Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 858-735-3093 |
| Alila Marea Beach Resort | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
| Cody's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0040 |
| Jeune Et Jolie | Carlsbad CA | 858-231-0862 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| AToN Center Inc. | Encinitas CA | 858-759-5017 |
| Mostra Coffee | San Diego CA | 760-586-9916 |
| Cantina Mayahuel | San Diego CA | 619-283-6292 |
| Marriott Courtyard - Broadway | San Diego CA | 619-446-3008 |
| Tribute Pizza | San Diego CA | 858-220-0030 |
| Pacific Regent La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-597-8008 |
| Seasalt | Del Mar CA | 858-755-7100 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Grill | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 808-868-8639 |
| Mimmos Italian Village | San Diego CA | 619-239-3710 |
| Top of the Market | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
| Bernardo Heights Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-487-4022 |
| Stout Public House | San Diego CA | 619-702-7933 |
| Milton's Delicatessen, Grill & Bakery | Del Mar CA | 858-792-2225 |
| Craft Kitchen | La Mesa CA | 619-461-4887 |
| Sheraton La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-453-5500 |
| Burgeon Beer Co. | San Diego CA | 760-814-2548 |
| Sorority Cuisine - Kappa Delta | San Diego CA | 510-512-2213 |
| Love Boat Sushi-San Marcos | San Marcos CA | 760-471-7722 |
| Feast and Fareway | Coronado CA | 619-356-5444 |
| Pizza Kaiju LLC | San Diego CA | 619-240-2716 |
| Crust Pizzeria-Carmel | San Diego CA | 858-212-8751 |
| Loving Hut | San Diego CA | 619-855-5674 |
| Landons East Meets West | San Marcos CA | 760-304-4560 |
| J & Tonys | San Diego CA | 855-634-7664 |
| Madison | San Diego CA | 619-822-3465 |
| Harry's Coffee Shop | San Diego CA | 858-454-7381 |
| Convention Center Shell | San Diego CA | 619-954-3063 |
| The Bellows | San Marcos CA | 619-395-6325 |
| Mission Bay Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 858-488-0501 x14 |
| The Original 40 Brewing | San Diego CA | 619-206-4725 |
| The Good Seed Food Company | San Diego CA | 818-800-6935 |
| Royal Polaris Sportfishing | San Diego CA | 619-226-8030 |
| Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern and Grill | Vista CA | 760-509-4424 |
| Hotel Del ENO Produce | Coronado CA | 619-435-6611 |
| Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
| Chateau Lake San Marcos | San Marcos CA | 760-670-5807 |
| Jo's Mission Hills Diner | San Diego CA | 619-417-3801 |
| Park 101 | Carlsbad CA | 760-434-2217 |
| Encontro North Park | San Diego CA | 310-955-6333 |
| Brigantine Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-481-1166 |
| Counterpoint | San Diego CA | 619-564-6722 |
| Coin-Op Game Room (Downtown) | San Diego CA | 619-255-8864 |
| insideOUT | San Diego CA | 619-888-8623 |
| The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
| Green Acres Campus 2020 | San Diego CA | 858-450-9907 |
| Scrimshaw Coffee | San Diego CA | 951-663-2207 |
| Monarch | Del Mar CA | 619-308-6500 |
| Crust Pizzeria Solana Beach | Solana Beach CA | 858-212-8751 |
| One Door North | San Diego CA | 858-232-4220 |
| Pure Burger | Carlsbad CA | 760-519-5377 |
| Surf Side Cuisine | San Diego CA | 619-507-0891 |
| Royal Rooster | San Diego CA | 949-510-1379 |
| Polaris Supreme | San Diego CA | 619-390-7890 |
| The Wise Ox | San Diego CA | 619-851-0672 |
| Leftys Chicago Pizzeria | San Diego CA | 619-299-4030 |
| Brigantine La Mesa | La Mesa CA | 619-465-1935 |
| The Glen at Scripps Ranch | San Diego CA | 858-444-8500 |
| PureTaco | Carlsbad CA | 760-845-3346 |
| Village Pizzaria | Coronado CA | 619-522-6890 |
| Cape Rey Carlsbad, a Hilton Resort | Carlsbad CA | 760-602-0800 |
| Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen | Oceanside CA | 619-990-0158 |
| Belmont Park Cannonball | San Diego CA | 858-228-9283 |
| The Butchery | San Diego CA | 858-345-1524 |
| Village Pizzeria Bay Side | Coronado CA | 619-522-6890 |
| Third Corner Ocean Beach | San Diego CA | 619-223-2700 |
| Beach Terrance Inn | Carlsbad CA | 760-729-5951 |
| Open Gym-Craft Meals | San Diego CA | 619-865-3024 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| Catamaran | San Diego CA | 858-488-1081 |
| The Country Club Of Rancho Bernardo | San Diego CA | 858-451-9100 |
| Manhattan of La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0700 |
| San Diego Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 619-758-6334 |
| Bahia Resort Hotel | San Diego CA | 858-488-0551 |
| Fish 101 | Encinitas CA | 760-943-6221 |
| Hott Mess | San Diego CA | 619-297-1866 |
| ALCE 101 | Solana Beach CA | 619-886-0059 |
| La Jolla Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-454-9601 |
| Graze | San Diego CA | 619-839-9852 |
| Huntress | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
| Terra Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-293-7088 |
| Kitchens For Good | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
| Truluck's Seafood Steak and Crab House | San Diego CA | 858-453-2583 |
| Shootz Fish X Beer | Oceanside CA | 978-290-6914 |
| Rabbit Hole | San Diego CA | 619-255-4653 |
| Working Class | San Diego CA | 858-226-6923 |
| Hotel Del Coronado Sundeck | Coronado CA | 619-435-6611 |
| Herb & Wood | San Diego CA | 520-205-1288 |
| Brigantine Imperial Beach | Imperial Beach CA | 619-591-1350 |
| Bishop School | San Diego CA | 858-459-4021 x212 |
| Larsen's Steakhouse - La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-886-7561 |
| The Local-Pacific Beach | San Diego CA | 858-263-7475 |
| Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
| Brigantine Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-4166 |
| The Loma Club | San Diego CA | 619-222-4653 |
| Belching Beaver Brewery - Pub 980 | Vista CA | 760-420-7764 |
| Solterra Winery + Kitchen | Encinitas CA | 858-245-6146 |
| Crust Pizzeria Carlsbad 2019 | Carlsbad CA | 760-944-1111 |
| Carte Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-365-1858 |
| Olive Tree Marketplace | San Diego CA | 619-224-0443 |
| Tipsy Crow | San Diego CA | 619-338-9300 |
| Petco Park - Delaware North | San Diego CA | 619-795-5917 |
| Brigantine Poway | Poway CA | 858-486-3066 |
| Le Papagayo (Encinitas) | Encinitas CA | 760-944-8252 |
| Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-380-9840 |
| Ketch Grill and Taps | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Bang Bang 2021 | San Diego CA | 619-382-8938 |
| The Lab Restaurant | Oceanside CA | 619-861-8299 |
| Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
| Georges at the Cove | San Diego CA | 858-454-4244 |
| Bayhill Tavern | San Diego CA | 858-288-6923 |
| Pendry SD (Lion Fish) | San Diego CA | 619-738-7000 |
| Fortunate Son | San Diego CA | 619-806-6121 |
| Cass Street Bar & Grill | San Diego CA | 858-414-2625 |
| Bantams Roost Public House | Carlsbad CA | 858-245-7166 |
| Brigantine Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2871 |
| La Cocina Mesa | Carlsbad CA | 619-454-9182 |
| Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
| Parkhouse Eatery | San Diego CA | 619-295-7275 |
| US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Hash House A Go Go | San Diego CA | 951-764-0605 |
| La Dona | San Diego CA | 858-352-8134 |
| Portside Pier (Brigantine) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Mesa College | San Diego CA | 619-388-2240 |
| Pete's Seafood and Sandwich | San Diego CA | 619-852-1493 |
| Saint Mark Golf and Resort, LLC | San Marcos CA | 508-320-6644 |
| Redwing Bar & Grill | San Diego CA | 619-281-8700 |
| The Roxy Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 760-230-2899 |
| Cutwater Spirits | San Diego CA | 619-672-3848 |
| InterContinental Vistal Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
| Eddie V's La Jolla - EV# 8511 | La Jolla CA | 858-459-5500 |
| The Crack Shack Costa Mesa | Costa Mesa CA | 951-808-7790 |
| C 2 C | San Diego CA | 619-972-9345 |
| Coin-Op Game Room | San Diego CA | 818-448-0129 |
| San Diego Freedom Ranch | Campo CA | 619-478-5696 |
| Brigantine Escondido | Escondido CA | 760-743-4718 |
| Brigantine Corp | San Diego CA | 858-926-9644 |
| Ridgeview Health Center | San Diego CA | 858-293-3950 |
| Coronado Yacht Club | Coronado CA | 619-435-1848 |
| La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen | Carlsbad CA | 760-930-7063 |
| Urbn Pizza Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-255-7300 |
| Elks Lodge 2698 | Lakeside CA | 619-390-4949 |
| Fish Market Downtown | San Diego CA | 619-232-3474 |
| Copper Kings | Oceanside CA | 323-810-1662 |
| Verbena Kitchen LLC | San Diego CA | 609-458-1672 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Iceberg Lettuce. One
is easiest, three is harder.
