Giving Farmers a Healthier Lettuce to Grow 

ARS researchers have developed a new lettuce variety that’s packed with vitamins and minerals. Lettuce is one of the most consumed fresh-market vegetables in the United States. However, it lags behind spinach and other “super foods” due to its lack of vitamin punch. Not anymore. 

ARS researchers in Salinas, CA, developed “USDA NutriHi”, a leaf lettuce variety that has up to 107% more vitamin A and vitamin C and up to 158% more minerals than other lettuce varieties. The vitamin and mineral concentrations in USDA NutriHi lettuce are similar or higher than concentrations in spinach. In addition, USDA NutriHi grows well in the Salinas Valley, the most important lettuce producing region of the United States. USDA NutriHi gives farmers a new star crop to grow while consumers benefit from a more nutritious lettuce variety.