The price of lettuce in the US saw a dramatic decline this summer, with new data released on Friday confirming a further drop in August. Prices fell by 16.4% in July, marking the largest decrease in recent history, and then dropped an additional 6.2% from July to August.
This significant reduction in price is attributed to a cyclospora outbreak that caused demand for lettuce to decrease. The parasite has been linked to over 19,500 confirmed cases in the US since May, spreading across 20 states and resulting in more than 1,000 hospitalisations and two deaths, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Consumers reportedly reduced their consumption of all types of greens due to fears surrounding the outbreak, which was specifically linked to recalled iceberg lettuce. David Ortega, a food economics and policy professor at Michigan State University, noted a strong connection between the outbreak and lower lettuce prices, stating that people cut back on not only lettuce but also other produce.
Before the outbreak, lettuce prices had been rising due to other supply constraints, including adverse weather and disease affecting harvests. The recent drop in demand has somewhat stabilised lettuce prices to levels seen a year ago, with prices falling 2.2% from August 2025 to August 2026.