Bitter cold grips western U.S. – Price of lettuce skyrockets

Freezing temperatures have damaged southwestern Arizona lettuce crops enough

that prices are increasing, said Kurt Nolte, a Yuma, Ariz.-based agricultural agent for the University of Arizona.

The area provides much of the nation’s leafy greens during the winter, and farmers are reporting damage to many romaine and iceberg lettuce crops. The cold is freezing the heads of the lettuce and affecting the quality and yield, Nolte said.

The price for a carton of lettuce in Yuma two weeks ago was $7 to $8. As of Monday, it cost around $20 per carton, he said.

Elsewhere in Arizona, temperatures over the weekend dipped to 30 degrees at the Phoenix airport, and well below zero in Flagstaff (elevation 6,910 ft [2,106 m]).

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_22369331/cold-snap-continues-calif-but-no-crop-damage

Thanks to Caroline in West Virginia for this link