Lettuce

1. Paris Island Cos – Romaine Lettuce
   A well-known heirloom ‘romaine’ type lettuce. Crisp leaves and sweet flavour. Uniform heads are large, about 24 cm (10”) tall, with deep green outer leaves and a creamy white heart. Available year-round.
   

   Description
   Romaine lettuce is medium to large in size with an elongated shape and stiff, upright leaves. The thick heads are loosely connected to a central blanched base and the leaves, averaging 10-15 centimeters in length, are broad with many folds and creases. The outer leaves are dark green with a prominent white central rib, and as the leaves grow smaller in the center, they become paler in color almost fading to white. Romaine lettuce is crisp, succulent, and crunchy with a mild, slightly bitter taste.

   Seasons/Availability
   Romaine lettuce is available year-round, with a peak season in the winter.

   Nutritional Value
   Romaine lettuce an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamins A, C, and K, thiamin, folate, iron, potassium, and manganese. It is also a good source of riboflavin, vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. Link.

2. Green Leaf Lettuce
   A semi-frilled, loose-leaf lettuce, Green Leaf lettuces can grow up to thirty centimeters in height and are one of the most commonly planted lettuces in the world. Available year-round.
   

   Description
   Green Leaf lettuce is medium to large in size, growing in an elongated shape, and is narrow and small at the base fanning out to a wide, curly, loose top. The leaves connect to a central stalk, branch out in all directions, and are tender, smooth, and broad with many curls and frills. The edges of the leaves are dark to bright green and as they transition into the juicy stalk the color changes to pale-green or white. Green leaf lettuce is crisp and has a sweet or bitter smell when the stalk is scratched, depending on the specific variety. The leaves also have a mildly sweet or semi-bitter flavor, and the bitterness often occurs in maturing greens versus young greens.

   Seasons/Availability
   Green Leaf lettuce is available year-round.

   Nutritional Value
   Green Leaf lettuce contains vitamins A, C, K, and folate. Link.

3. Iceberg Lettuce
   Iceberg lettuce is one of the only lettuce varieties that does not occur in red form as well as green. Available year-round.
   

   Description
   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.

   Nutritional Value
   Iceberg lettuce is a good source of potassium, iron, calcium, fiber and vitamins A, C, and K. Link.