Lettuce Facts

Lettuce Facts

1. Lettuce originated in the Mediterranean area and was first grown as a weed.  The first documentation of cultivation begins in Ancient Egypt over 6000 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. 

2. Ancient Greeks and Romans also cultivated lettuce.  Hippocrates, the father of medicine, would praise lettuce to his fellow Grecians.  It is said that the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus valued lettuce so much that he had a statue of lettuce made. 

3. Ancient Greeks and Romans also cultivated lettuce.  Hippocrates, the father of medicine, would praise lettuce to his fellow Grecians.  It is said that the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus valued lettuce so much that he had a statue of lettuce made. 

4. Lettuce spread throughout Europe.  On his second journey to the Americas, Columbus brought lettuce seeds to plant.  Lettuce cultivation began in the United States in the 1600’s when John Winthrop Jr. brought lettuce seeds to America from England. 

5. Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.

6. On average, Americans eat 30 pounds of lettuce every year.

7. Most lettuce sold in the US is grown in California.

8. Lettuce leaves that are darker in color contain more vitamins and minerals than the paler color varieties.

9. Lettuce is harvested by hand.

10. Iceberg lettuce is the least nutritious of the salad greens.  It has a pale green color and looks similar to cabbage because of its tightly packed leaves that form a head. It was originally called Crisphead Lettuce, but was renamed in the 1920's.  

11. Romaine lettuce is loaf-shaped and has dark outer leaves with strong taste and crisp texture.  This lettuce was grown by the Romans, which gives it the name Romaine.  In Europe it is called Cos lettuce - named after the Greek island Kos in the Aegean Sea where it was grown. 

12. Leaf lettuce is lettuce with leaves that form in a loose bunch rather than a tight head. The leaves are typically crisper and more flavorful than head lettuce. 

13. Lettuce comes in many different varieties, but the rule of thumb is: the darker the leaves, the more nutritious! Lettuce is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, a good source of folate, and contains many other important nutrients like calcium, iron, and copper that help maintain our body’s tissues and functions. 

14. Lettuce is mainly eaten raw, so make sure the leaves are washed, and that you have removed any brown, wilted, or slimy leaves.

15. Besides raw, lettuce can also be braised, steamed, sautéed, or even grilled.

16. The lettuce that we eat today actually began as a week around the Mediterranean sea, and has been served in dishes for more than 4500 years. 

17. Christopher Columbus introduced lettuce to the new world. 

18. There are tomb paintings of lettuce from ancient Egypt, and documents from various 

19. Greek scholars that identified different types of lettuce.

20. Lettuce is the second most popular fresh vegetable in the United States. 

21. Iceberg is the least nutritious of the salad greens. 

22. Thomas Jefferson had 19 varieties of lettuce growing in his garden at Monticello. 

23. Darker green lettuce leaves are more nutritious than lighter green leaves.