Romaine

Commodity Overview

Romaine adds a different flavor and texture to your lettuce category. Promote it as a more nutrient-dense option for salads and meals. Encourage shoppers who are looking for low-carb options to consider using romaine as a wrap.

PLUs

4640 regular/cos
3097 red romaine

Varieties

Green Romaine

Red Romaine

Retail Price Data is based on USDA Specialty Crops Market News surveys. Data collection ends on the report date and encompasses ad pricing good from the Saturday before the report release date through the following Friday. Weekly data - from over 400 retailers, comprising more than 30,000 individual stores with online weekly advertised features - covers over 250 produce items. Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

USDA Specialty Crops Market News publishes FOB and Movement data on a daily and weekly basis. Pricing and volume information is aggregated by commodity and published weekly, subject to any source-data adjustments. Commodity data is further processed based on origin (domestic vs imports) and type (regular vs. organic). Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

Facts

Romaine’s health benefits are a big draw for consumers. Romaine contains vitamin A, which is essential for healthy eyes. The folate found in romaine can help prevent neural tube birth defects. Romaine is a good source of potassium, which has been shown to help lower blood pressure. The vitamin C in romaine can help keep your immune system working well and help prevent cancer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following nutrient content descriptors for romaine: low-fat, saturated fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, low in calories, high in vitamin A and a good source of folate.

Sales Strategies

Besides being the base for Caesar salad, romaine can also be used as a topping for sandwiches and in other types of salads. Cross-merchandise it with croutons, salad dressing, salad toppings, deli meat and cheese.
Romaine is available year-round, so take advantage and promote it throughout the year.
Fall: Include romaine in football game-day promotions as a topping for tailgate burgers.
Winter: Promote romaine as a base for holiday salads. Encourage consumers to think about adding a Caesar salad to their holiday table.
Spring: Create an Ides of March display to play up romaine’s association with Caesar salad. Include it in Cinco de Mayo promotions as an alternative to iceberg lettuce in Mexican dishes.
Summer: Promote romaine as an important piece of summer grilling promotions as a topping for grilled hamburgers or chicken sandwiches.
Offer a salad promotion that lets consumers choose three salad items for the same price. Include romaine as one of the options.

Dynamic Displays

Be aware that there are two types of romaine. Self-closing romaine has leaves that curve inward at the tips to form well-blanched closed heads. Loose closing includes varieties that do not form closed heads, with leaves that appear coarse but are actually tender, sweet and less bitter than other varieties.
Romaine can be displayed vertically, which creates an opportunity to draw a shopper’s eye. Stacking romaine heads vertically also helps keep the bottom heads from being crushed.
Place romaine near other salad vegetables. Displaying romaine next to carrots or tomatoes creates an eye-catching color contrast.
Romaine hearts are popular with consumers who just want the tender leaves near the middle, so include them in your display.

Food Service

Use romaine as a topping for sandwiches from chicken to hamburger.
Romaine leaves are perfect to use as lettuce wraps for carb-conscious consumers.
Offer romaine in a Caesar salad, but also use it as a base for other salads. Consider adding romaine to salad bars.
Use a single romaine leaf as an attractive plate garnish.
To crisp romaine, plunge the leaves in ice water for a few minutes just before serving.

In the Backroom

Shipping
40-lb. 2⁄3 cartons/crate, 24-count (West) 40-lb. cartons 28-lb. 1 3-bushel cartons 22-lb. 11⁄9-bushel cartons/crates 22-lb. cartons, 24-count (East) 18-lb. cartons, 12-count RPC – 6425, 6426, 6428, 6432 Foodservice packs 48-count jumbo hearts 48-count petite hearts Chopped Cartons, 4 5-lb. bags Cartons, 4 3-lb. bags 2- and 4-dozen loose 4-dozen loose Consumer packs Romaine hearts 18-bag carton, 2 heads per bag 12-bag carton, 3 heads per bag, 48-count 8-bag carton, 6 heads per bag (club stores) 4 dozen, loose

Grades
U.S. No. 1

Handling
Temperature: 32 F (0 C) (Romaine will freeze if placed directly on ice or subjected to temperatures below this. If using ice in a display, place it on the sides and not on the product.) Relative humidity: 95% Mist: lightly Typical shelf life: 14 to 21 days Romaine does not maintain top quality when stored for extended periods.