The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Crescent City Times.com By California Department of Food & Agriculture – June 17, 2026 June 17 is National Lettuce Day, a chance to recognize California’s lettuce growers and farmworkers who help produce one of the state’s most important vegetable crops. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS), California leads the nation in the production of all three major lettuce categories: head, leaf, and romaine lettuce. In California, growers produce: Head lettuce: 2.8 billion pounds with a value of $1.2 billion Leaf lettuce: 1.4 billion pounds with a value of $1.17 billion Romaine lettuce: 3.8 billion pounds with a value of $2.2 billion Romaine is California’s largest lettuce crop by both production and value, with 3.8 billion pounds grown and a value of $2.2 billion. This National Lettuce Day, we celebrate the dedication of California’s lettuce growers and farmworkers whose work helps make California the nation’s leading producer of head, leaf, and romaine lettuce. CDFA’s Mission: To safeguard a resilient food system and promote an equitable marketplace, cultivating a California grown food supply that is globally recognized for innovation, quality and sustainability.