Top End shoppers are paying a premium for the humble iceberg lettuce, we found out why

Top End shoppers are paying up to $7 for a lettuce. FIND OUT WHY

A SPIKE in iceberg lettuce prices has left Top End shoppers curious about why a vegetable made mostly of water has become so costly.

Iceberg lettuce prices are ranging from $5.50 to $6.99 in supermarkets across the Top End.

Cox Country Club kitchen staffer Angela Harding said her workplace had paid more than $8 per iceberg lettuce when she ordered a box of 12.

“I normally pay around $5 for them,” Ms Harding said.

“I thought well that’s expensive. I just thought ‘well for lettuce that’s a lot’. I suppose, if you want it, you’ve got to pay what it is. It’s like your fuel.”

Ms Harding said despite the rising cost of lettuce, the Country Club’s meal prices would not increase.

“You can’t change the prices just because the price of lettuce has gone up,” she said.

“Well you’ve got to but it because we have it for our salad, burgers and steak sandwiches and stuff like that.”

According to the Australian Government Agricultural overview for the June quarter 2022, recent weather crises such as flooding, soaring fertiliser prices and limited access to farm labour and machinery were some of the reasons why costs have climbed.

While shopping at Woolworths in Nightcliff, a 68-year-old Millner resident who did not want to be named, was thankful to see iceberg lettuce being sold for $6.50, in comparison to other states where prices have doubled.

“After having heard and watched the news yesterday (Wednesday) evening, iceberg lettuce was quoted double figure dollar prices,” she said.

“I came in today to see what the lettuce price was doing and I’m very pleased to see it was in my budget as $6.50.

“As a 68-year-old pensioner, I would pay that and I’m on a really tight budget.”

Woolworths general manager of fruit and veg Paul Turner said due to the continued heavy rain and low sunlight in Queensland, some vegetable varieties had a reduction in supply and quality.

Both Woolworths Darwin and Nightcliff supermarkets had full shelves of iceberg lettuce priced at $6.50. Picture: Floss Adams.

“We’re still seeing challenges with lettuce and berry supply so while the new crops have been planted, it will take a few weeks for stocks to return to more stable levels,” Mr Turner said.

“Many of our customers love to shop and eat seasonally and we think it’s important to be upfront about fresh food availability.”