MONTEREY, CA - Lettuce is to fresh produce as bread is to butter—an essential part of any great eating experience. Braga Fresh Family Farms and Josie’s Organics are some of the best-known names in the lettuce game, so I thought it necessary to check in with the company on the state of the market. I had the chance to chat with Peter Cling, Senior Vice President of Operations, to learn more about the company’s premier operations.

“Romaine demand and prices (both conventional and organic) have been strong all summer and we expect that to continue,” he began. “We are facing aphid pressure on our organic romaine supply, so that along with a general pull back on acres tied to summer plantings and COVID-19 uncertainty is keeping supplies limited.”

Primarily grown in South Monterey County, Braga Fresh is positioned as a leader in the lettuce category. According to Peter, the market has presented challenges, but the company continues to produce a premium supply.

“Iceberg seems to be a little snug from a volume perspective, but demand hasn’t been ideal. We are in the middle of the dog days of August, and we are hopeful demand improves as we head into September,” Peter added.

He concluded by saying, “We continue to expand our organic and conventional lettuce programs to meet customer needs and look forward to a strong program as we transition into the fall and winter season.”

A staple in our industry and on consumers’ plates, lettuce is always at the forefront of our minds. As we continue to cover market updates across all fresh produce categories, keep a tab open for AndNowUKnow.

Braga Fresh Family Farms