'Nobody wants it': Lettuce prices see record-setting plunge as cyclospora spooks consumers
CNBC · 2026-08-12
Amid a cyclospora outbreak, lettuce prices experienced a record-setting plunge in July, marking their sharpest month-over-month decline ever, as consumers became wary of purchasing the leafy green. Despite this significant drop, which pulled prices down from all-time highs earlier this summer, lettuce prices are still up around 7.5% in July compared with a year ago, more than double the overall CPI basket's price growth. Jeremy Horpedahl, an associate economics professor at the University of Central Arkansas, attributes the decline to consumer reluctance, stating, “It’s very likely due to the cyclospora outbreak and consumers just not wanting to buy lettuce right now.” This sentiment has led to reduced traffic for several restaurant chains, even those not directly implicated in the outbreak, as the food safety concerns weigh heavily on shoppers. Horpedahl emphasizes that consumers are unlikely to capitalize on the lower prices, as the underlying fear stemming from the outbreak, which has sickened thousands, persists.
*The full article also explores the broader economic implications of this consumer shift on the produce industry and inflation.*