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Head to Head: a Lettuce Comparison
Not surprisingly, the garden-grown lettuce makes the least impact on both the environment and your wallet. But if you have a black thumb or no room to garden, the locally-grown farmer's market lettuce leaves a far gentler footprint than does the conventional head-and for about the same price.
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Head 1:
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Head 2:
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Head 3:
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Water
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"Flood"-style irrigation: considered least efficient, consuming 70% of the world's fresh water.2
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Drip-tape irrigation: up to 90% more efficient than flood-style.3
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About a gallon per week from the watering can (less in the fall) or from collected water in a rain barrel.
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Fertilizer
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Commercial fertilizer. Conventional agriculture leaches minerals from the soil, creating increased dependence on chemical fertilizers.
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Chemical-free fertilizers such as seed meal, manure, and compost. Organic soil nitrogen levels can be up to 15% higher than conventional farms and can sequester more carbon.4
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Compost from the backyard bin.
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Packaging
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Shipped to the store in heavy plastic. U.S. consumers use and throw away over 100 billion plastic bags, sacks, and wraps each year.
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Carried from the farm in reusable wooden crates; carried home in a canvas grocery bag.
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Carried inside in your hands.
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Travel
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1,800 miles: uses 17 times more fuel and creates far more CO2 emissions than transport for locally-grown produce.5
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60 miles: Average distance from a local farm in Minnesota to the farmer's market.
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Seeds mailed about 45 miles from S.E. MN. Once picked, vegetables lose nutrients rapidly, so the quicker the lettuce goes from the ground to your mouth, the better it is for you.
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Cost
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About $1.00 at your local megamart.
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$1.00 at farmer's market.
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$2.00 for a packet of 900 seeds!
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Greens at the Minneapolis Farmer's Market (top) and at the supermarket. Photos by Jessie Houlihan
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Head 1:
|
Head 2:
|
Head 3:
|
|
Water
|
"Flood"-style irrigation: considered least efficient, consuming 70% of the world's fresh water.2
|
Drip-tape irrigation: up to 90% more efficient than flood-style.3
|
About a gallon per week from the watering can (less in the fall) or from collected water in a rain barrel.
|
|
Fertilizer
|
Commercial fertilizer. Conventional agriculture leaches minerals from the soil, creating increased dependence on chemical fertilizers.
|
Chemical-free fertilizers such as seed meal, manure, and compost. Organic soil nitrogen levels can be up to 15% higher than conventional farms and can sequester more carbon.4
|
Compost from the backyard bin.
|
|
Packaging
|
Shipped to the store in heavy plastic. U.S. consumers use and throw away over 100 billion plastic bags, sacks, and wraps each year.
|
Carried from the farm in reusable wooden crates; carried home in a canvas grocery bag.
|
Carried inside in your hands.
|
|
Travel
|
1,800 miles: uses 17 times more fuel and creates far more CO2 emissions than transport for locally-grown produce.5
|
60 miles: Average distance from a local farm in Minnesota to the farmer's market.
|
Seeds mailed about 45 miles from S.E. MN. Once picked, vegetables lose nutrients rapidly, so the quicker the lettuce goes from the ground to your mouth, the better it is for you.
|
|
Cost
|
About $1.00 at your local megamart.
|
$1.00 at farmer's market.
|
$2.00 for a packet of 900 seeds!
|
Not surprisingly, the garden-grown lettuce makes the least impact on both the environment and your wallet. But if you have a black thumb or no room to garden, the locally-grown farmer's market lettuce leaves a far gentler footprint than does the conventional head-and for about the same price.
