Lettuce, Romaine Wholesale Prices
USDA Market News · Report date: October 7, 2026
As of October 7, 2026, the average for lettuce, romaine (cartons) was $28.56 per carton across 16 quotes from 6 U.S. markets, ranging $18.00 to $48.00. Organic (Hearts · cartons 12 3-count packages) averaged $40.00 per carton of 12 3-count packages across 1 quote. Leading origins: California, Canada, Salinas-Watsonville California, Santa Maria California, South and Central District California. Other packs and sizes are priced separately below.
How this price is calculated
The headline is the average of USDA terminal market quotes for lettuce, romaine in the most commonly quoted pack, cartons (conventional): 16 quotes from 6 U.S. markets in this report. Each quote counts once, at the midpoint of USDA's “mostly” range where one is published, otherwise of its low–high range. The range shown is the lowest and highest price among those same quotes.
Other packs, sizes and organic lots are priced separately in the tables below; nothing is averaged across different packs. Quotes more than three times above or below the typical price for their pack are treated as likely errors, marked † and left out. Reports more than 10 days older than the newest are not used.
The trend compares the same items, meaning the same city, variety, pack, size and origin, with the previous report and takes the median change (12 items matched). Prices are per package as published by USDA AMS Market News.
Terminal Market (Wholesale)
| Market | Size | Origin | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| cartons16 quotes · avg $28.56 · $18.00–$48.00Headline price | |||
| Atlanta | 24s | California | $23.00–$25.00 |
| Atlanta | 24s | California | $36.00–$39.00mostly $37.00–$38.00 |
| Boston | 24s | California | $45.00–$48.00 |
| Boston | 24s | California | $36.00–$40.00mostly $36.00–$38.00 |
| Boston | 24s | Canada | $24.00–$28.00mostly $24.00–$26.00 |
| Chicago | 24s | Canada | $32.00 |
| Chicago | 24s | Michigan | $25.00–$26.00 |
| Chicago | 24s | California | $32.00–$35.00mostly $33.00–$34.00 |
| Chicago | 24s | Illinois | $23.00–$24.00 |
| Miami | 24s | California | $37.00–$38.00 |
| Miami | 24s | Canada | $33.00–$34.00 |
| New York | 24s | Canada | $20.00–$22.00 |
| New York | 24s | California | $24.00–$27.00 |
| Philadelphia | 24s | New Jersey | $18.00 |
| Philadelphia | 24s | Canada | $18.00 |
| Philadelphia | 24s | Maine | $18.00–$20.00 |
| Hearts · cartons 12 3-count packages9 quotes · avg $31.28 · $22.00–$48.00 | |||
| Atlanta | — | California | $30.00–$33.00mostly $31.00–$32.00 |
| Boston | — | Canada | $22.00–$26.00mostly $22.00–$24.00 |
| Boston | — | California | $35.00–$40.00mostly $36.00–$38.00 |
| Boston | — | California | $44.00–$48.00mostly $44.00–$46.00 |
| Chicago | — | California | $28.00–$32.00mostly $29.00–$30.00 |
| Los Angeles | — | California | $35.00–$36.00 |
| New York | — | California | $26.00–$28.00 |
| Philadelphia | — | California | $30.00–$32.00 |
| Philadelphia | — | California | $22.00 |
| Hearts · cartons 7 6-count packages4 quotes · avg $43.88 · $38.00–$52.00 | |||
| Boston | — | California | $52.00 |
| Boston | — | California | $44.00–$45.00 |
| New York | — | California | $40.00–$42.00 |
| Philadelphia | — | California | $38.00 |
| cartons film lined2 quotes · avg $33.00 · $32.00–$35.00 | |||
| Los Angeles | 24s | California | $32.00–$33.00 |
| Philadelphia | 24s | California | $32.00–$35.00 |
| Hearts · cartons 12 22-oz (3 count) packages2 quotes · avg $35.00 · $33.00–$37.00 | |||
| Miami | — | Canada | $36.00–$37.00 |
| Miami | — | California | $33.00–$34.00 |
| Hearts · cartons film lined1 quote · avg $35.00 | |||
| Los Angeles | 48s | California | $35.00 |
| OrganicHearts · cartons 12 3-count packages1 quote · avg $40.00 | |||
| Chicago | — | California | $40.00 |
| Organiccartons1 quote · avg $38.00 | |||
| Chicago | 24s | California | $38.00 |
Price History
Weekly averages for cartons from USDA reports · Jan 2025 to Oct 2026 · 14% below this week last year
Shipping Point (FOB)
| Region | Size | Origin | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hearts · cartons 12 3-count packages2 quotes · avg $36.40 · $26.55–$45.75 | |||
| Phoenix | — | Salinas-Watsonville California | $34.95–$45.75mostly $41.55–$43.75 |
| Phoenix | — | Santa Maria California | $26.55–$35.85mostly $28.45–$31.85 |
| cartons2 quotes · avg $31.41 · $22.55–$40.75 | |||
| Phoenix | 24s | Salinas-Watsonville California | $30.95–$40.75mostly $35.50–$38.75 |
| Phoenix | 24s | Santa Maria California | $22.55–$31.85mostly $24.55–$26.85 |
| Hearts · cartons film lined1 quote · avg $45.60 · $40.50–$53.55 | |||
| Phoenix | 48s | Salinas-Watsonville California | $40.50–$53.55mostly $44.45–$46.75 |
| OrganicHearts · cartons 12 3-count packages1 quote · avg $32.00 · $27.00–$37.00 | |||
| Phoenix | — | South and Central District California | $27.00–$37.00mostly $28.00–$36.00 |
| Organiccartons1 quote · avg $28.00 · $26.00–$36.00 | |||
| Phoenix | 24s | South and Central District California | $26.00–$36.00mostly $26.00–$30.00 |
Related Commodities
avg $57.48/carton · $36.00–$75.00 Lettuce, Green Leaf
avg $30.55/carton · $14.00–$49.00 Lettuce, Boston
avg $31.28/carton · $21.00–$59.00 Lettuce, Red Leaf
avg $30.31/carton · $14.00–$38.00 Lettuce, Frisee
avg $27.33/flat · $22.00–$42.00 Lettuce, Mesculin Mix
avg $8.40/carton · $7.00–$10.00
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