John Myers
Lettuce belongs to the botanical daisy family (bot.: Compositae or Asteraceae) and is a leafy vegetable. Lettuce for picking includes lettuces that do not have a head, but a stalk that is richly covered from bottom to top with large, smooth, or more or less curled leaves that remain tender. Lettuce can be harvested multiple times. To make this possible, only the mature, outer leaves are picked.
Origin
As the name suggests, the Lollo Bionda and Lollo Rossa lettuce varieties come from Italy. The main producers of cut lettuce in Europe today are Great Britain, France, and Italy.
Season
Lettuce can be harvested multiple times by picking only the mature, outer leaves. Lettuce from local outdoor cultivation is available from mid-May to the end of October.
Taste
Depending on the variety, the taste is strongly nutty and/or slightly bitter.
Use
Lettuce is used like lettuce, often in the form of salad mixes. It should be fresh, tender, and crispy.
Storage/shelf life
It can be stored in the vegetable compartment of the fridge for up to 3 days.
