when was iceberg lettuce invented

What is the origin of iceberg lettuce?

The lettuce is a relative newcomer, and confusingly named. A lettuce that went by the name of iceberg was developed in the 1890's, and somehow the name resurfaced when new varieties of durable, easily shippable crisphead lettuce began emerging in California in the mid-1920's. In 1948, the iceberg we know today was born.

Why is the iceberg lettuce so called?

Iceberg lettuce got its name from the fact that California growers shipped it covered with heaps of crushed ice in the 1920s. It had previously been called Crisphead lettuce. Americans eat approximately 11 pounds of lettuce per year, per person.

Is Iceburg lettuce the worst kind of lettuce to eat?

Most experts consider Iceberg lettuce the worst kind because it has a very low nutrient content. Iceberg lettuce contains a small amount of calcium, potassium, and phosphorus, and little else. It’s mostly water, and if your pet eats too much, it could cause diarrhea. However, it’s not toxic, and your pet will be fine if it eats some.

Why is it called Iceburg lettuce?

Iceberg lettuce got its name from the fact that California growers shipped it covered with heaps of crushed ice in the 1920s. It had previously been called Crisphead lettuce. Americans eat approximately 11 pounds of lettuce per year, per person.

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What country does iceberg lettuce come from?

A lettuce that went by the name of iceberg was developed in the 1890's, and somehow the name resurfaced when new varieties of durable, easily shippable crisphead lettuce began emerging in California in the mid-1920's. In 1948, the iceberg we know today was born....The History of Iceberg Lettuce.IcebergRomainevitamin K17.4 mcg48.2 mcg11 more rows

How was iceberg lettuce made?

0:171:10How Iceberg Lettuce TRANSFORMED the Way We Eat - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut then lettuce breeders came up with the iceberg. They did it by crossbreeding varieties untilMoreBut then lettuce breeders came up with the iceberg. They did it by crossbreeding varieties until they produced a new breed that could withstand the long hot cross-country train journey.

When did iceberg lettuce come to the UK?

1970'sThe first Iceberg lettuce arrived on British shores in the mid 1970's from USA. In 1984 British growers learnt to grow lettuce and it became popular through the classic Prawn Cocktail. The first bagged salad was a shredded iceberg sold by Marks & Spencer in 1986.

When did people start growing lettuce?

Lettuce was first cultivated in ancient Egypt for the production of oil from its seeds. The plant was probably selectively bred by the Egyptians into a plant grown for its edible leaves, with evidence of its cultivation appearing as early as 2680 BC.

What is wrong with iceberg lettuce?

“With the high water content, iceberg lettuce isn't as rich in [nutrients] as other types of lettuce,” Feller explains. The sky-high levels of H20, mean there's just not as much room for other good stuff, like vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making iceberg lettuce nutrition less impressive.

Is iceberg lettuce just water?

First off, iceberg lettuce is composed of 96% water—similar to celery and cucumbers. This makes it great for getting in extra hydration during hot days.

Why is there no iceberg lettuce in stores?

According to Growing Produce, California lettuce growers faced hotter-than-average temperatures and crop diseases that led to a shortage of iceberg and romaine lettuce. These tight conditions bled into 2021.

Is iceberg lettuce genetically modified?

The iceberg lettuce and the Non-GMO iceberg lettuce are the exact same thing, because there is no GMO lettuce available on the market in the USA. This sign leads you to believe you are making a choice about whether you agree with consuming GMOs or not.

Is romaine lettuce man made?

Appropriately invented by a man named Caesar! Romaine is a member of the daisy family Compositae which, although the second largest family of flowering plants, contributes only a few food plants (including also chicory, endive, escarole and dandelion).

Who first ate lettuce?

The first documentation of cultivation begins in Ancient Egypt over 6,000 years ago, but it may have been cultivated in the Middle East prior to this. Ancient Egyptian artwork, especially tomb paintings, depicts different varieties of lettuce. Ancient Greeks and Romans also cultivated lettuce.

Why is it called Iceberg lettuce?

Introduced for commercial production in the late 1940s, Iceberg (or crisphead) lettuce was the only variety bred to survive cross-country travel (the name Iceberg comes from the piles of ice they would pack the light green lettuce heads in before the advent of the refrigerated train car).

Which country eats the most lettuce?

Global Lettuce And Chicory Consumption Moreover, lettuce and chicory consumption in China surpassed the figures recorded by the United States fourfold. They were followed by Spain with a X% of global consumption share and Italy with a X% share.

What is iceberg lettuce?

Introduction. Iceberg lettuce, also known as crisphead, is one of the six types of lettuce crops, which includes Roma ine, loose-leaf, and butterhead, and it is one of the only types not available in a red varietal. These L. sativa cultivars are all within Lactuca genus, which includes most other varieties of lettuce.

Why is lettuce called an iceberg?

It was developed to withstand the long journeys along the Trans-Atlantic Railroad and was a symbol of the expanding U.S. industrial agriculture system during the mid-20 th century.

How long does iceberg lettuce last?

Whole head iceberg is now shipped globally and has a shelf life of three to four weeks (cut lettuce has a shorter shelf life). Although iceberg can be traced to the early 20 th century in the Americas, lettuce was found growing as a weed over 4,500 years ago in the Mediterranean region.

What are the pathogens that cause lettuce outbreaks?

The major pathogens that have caused outbreaks associated with lettuce have been Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. Production of iceberg lettuce in the United States occurs largely in California and Arizona where the mild climate contributes to high crop yields.

What is the foodborne pathogen in Dole lettuce?

In 2015, the CDC and the FDA conducted an investigation which linked salad greens containing iceberg lettuce sold by Dole Food Company’s processing facility in Ohio with the foodborne pathogen, Listeria.

Why does the production cost of lettuce outweigh the benefits?

For producers, benefits outweigh the production cost because high demand for this lettuce in the U.S. fuels profits . The consumption of all lettuce types has grown since the 1960’s, reaching a high of 34.5 pounds per capita as of 2004, which has since decreased to the 2015 annual consumption of 25.6 pounds per capita.

How much water does lettuce need?

Generally, a head lettuce crop like iceberg needs about 38 to 50 inches of water for optimal growth, but this will vary depending on the location, soil type and equipment used in production. It is important to moisten the soil to soften it prior to planting.

When was lettuce first described?

By 50 AD, many types were described, and lettuce appeared often in medieval writings, including several herbals. The 16th through 18th centuries saw the development of many varieties in Europe, and by the mid-18th century cultivars were described that can still be found in gardens.

When was lettuce first introduced to the Americas?

Lettuce was first brought to the Americas from Europe by Christopher Columbus in the late 15th century.

What is the synonym of Lactuca sativa?

Synonyms. Lactuca scariola var. sativa (Moris) L. scariola var. integrata ( Gren. and Godr.) L. scariola var. integrifolia ( G.Beck) Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa) is an annual plant of the daisy family, Asteraceae. It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable, but sometimes for its stem and seeds. Lettuce is most often used for salads, ...

What is lettuce called in Latin?

The Romans referred to lettuce as lactuca ( lac meaning dairy in Latin), an allusion to the white substance, now called latex, exuded by cut stems. This word has become the genus name, while sativa (meaning "sown" or "cultivated") was added to create the species name.

How much lettuce is produced in the world?

Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization. In 2017, world production of lettuce (report combined with chicory) was 27 million tonnes, with China alone producing 15.2 million tonnes or 56% of the world total ( see table ). Lettuce is the only member of the genus Lactuca to be grown commercially.

What is lettuce used for?

Lettuce is most often used for salads, although it is also seen in other kinds of food, such as soups, sandwiches and wraps; it can also be grilled. One variety, the celtuce (asparagus lettuce) ( t: 萵苣; s: 莴苣; woju ), is grown for its stems, which are eaten either raw or cooked.

How many types of lettuce are there?

There are several types or cultivars of lettuce. Three types – leaf, head and cos or romaine – are the most common. There are seven main cultivar groups of lettuce, each including many varieties:

What was the most popular lettuce in the 1950s?

By the 1950s iceberg lettuce was the most commonly consumed lettuce in the U.S., with average per capita consumption around 20 pounds. Refrigeration technology developed to the point that iceberg lettuce was even shipped to American soldiers in Vietnam.

Who invented the bagged salad greens?

That led to the next revolutionary invention -- that of bagged salad greens. What I never realized was how complex those plastic bags of greens are. Jim Lug, who worked to design the first bags, told Nuttall-Smith that there are numerous layers within the plastic that you cannot see.

Why didn't all heads of lettuce get eaten?

But then, the iceberg growers and packers, who were always looking to improve their business model, realized that not all heads of lettuce got fully eaten because they were only ever sold in a full-head form. That led to the next revolutionary invention -- that of bagged salad greens.

What was the first fresh produce?

Lettuce was the first fresh produce that Americans were able to buy any day or week of the year. Prior to this, they relied on root vegetables like cabbage, potatoes, and carrots. Lettuce exploded onto the culinary scene when growers in California's Salinas Valley figured out how to send train cars filled with iceberg lettuce across ...

How long does an iceberg last?

It has a long shelf life of 21-26 days, fourteen of which were needed to reach Chicago at the time.

What did the invention of mescluns mean?

Their invention, however, meant that farmers could now ship more fragile lettuces, like Romaine, arugula, endive, Boston bibb, butterhead, and radicchio, further afield. As a result, mixed salad greens, or mesclun mixes, became a normal part of the American diet.

Is lettuce boring?

We've now reached a point where lettuce is so normal that's is almost boring. It's the vegetable nobody really thinks about, that everyone takes for granted because it's so cheap and available; and yet, as Nuttall-Smith points out, most Americans only know the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, when it comes to lettuces.

What is the history of lettuce?

The History of Lettuce. The gardens at Monticello still grow some of the cultivars mentioned in Thomas Jefferson’s notebooks. ‘Brown Dutch’ lettuce, a cultivar from Holland, was another of Jefferson’s favorites. Oakleaf lettuces add interest to the garden and table .

Where did lettuce originate?

Common lettuce, Lactuca sativa, has its origins in the Middle East. Egyptian wall murals of Min, the god of fertility, depict lettuce in cultivation in about 2700 B.C. The erect plant — similar to modern romaine, with a thick stem and milky sap — had sexual connotations.

What kind of lettuce did the astronauts eat?

Futuristic Lettuce. In 2015, the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) grew and ate ‘Outredgeous’ red romaine lettuce. Their garden was a chamber called Veggie, and it contained crop-appropriate lighting and rooting pillows instead of soil.

What were the most popular lettuces in the 1900s?

In the early 1900s, the five most popular lettuces were ‘Prizehead,’ ‘Hanson,’ ‘Black Seeded Simpson,’ ‘Tennis Ball,’ and ‘Big Boston,’ in that order. Vendors would have to sell these greens locally because they were too fragile and perishable to hold up in shipping.

Where did lettuce grow?

The alternate name, “cos,” was used for the stem lettuce grown on the Greek island of Kos, a major lettuce-producing region.

What is Thousand Island dressing made of?

My second favorite is Thousand Island dressing made from mayonnaise, ketchup, and chopped homegrown pickles and their juice.

Where did Thomas Jefferson plant lettuce?

Thomas Jefferson had 17 varieties of lettuce planted at Monticello. ‘Brown Dutch,’ from Holland, was one of his favorites. This loose-leaf lettuce with red-brown tinges was suitable for fall planting and winter harvest in Virginia’s mild climate. ‘Brown Dutch’ is one of our oldest surviving heirlooms.

Growing Information

Iceberg lettuce is still in the #1 spot in terms of volume produced in the U.S., just beating out romaine. In California, over 80,000 acres are planted and a whopping 1.6 million tons are harvested each year. This lettuce is typically harvested by hand. Hand harvesting is performed using a special long bladed knife with an angled cutting edge.

Usage Ideas

One of the best ways to eat iceberg lettuce is in a Wedge Salad. It’s easy to make one of these. Simply cut an iceberg head into four wedges, smother with creamy blue cheese dressing and top with bits of bacon, tomato and more crumbled blue cheese. Serve chilled and eat with a fork and knife.

Stay in the Know About Lettuce

Get the facts about lettuce and why it’s one of the safest and healthiest foods we can eat.

Key Facts

Introduction

Foodborne Outbreaks and Recalls

Production

Food Safety

Consumption

Nutrition

References

Overview

Production

Taxonomy and etymology

Description

History

Cultivation

Culinary use

Food-borne illness