The myth of $10 lettuce

Posted Wed, Jan 25, 2006 at 3:05 pm

Pro-illegal immigration suppoters frequently claim that lettuce would cost $5 or $10 a head if we reduced illegal immigration. There are many counterarguments to this claim, but in any case under no circumstances would a labor price increase lead to such a drastic total price increase. For instance, a figure I've used is that the labor costs of lettuce are just 10%; double the cost of labor and you might increase the cost at the grocery store by 10 cents or so.

It would be nice to get a definitive answer to the exact amount, and if you want to help out please leave a link.

Alternatively, here's a 1996 research paper about Loose Leaf Lettuce. Not being an expert I can't get a bottom line, but someone else says "it takes 20-25 cents to grow a head of lettuce and 15 cents is for labor."

Can someone point to something at that page giving a bottom line?

Comments

D Flinchum (not verified)

Fri, 01/27/2006 - 04:31

What US farmers? The farms using illegal alien labor are big agri-businesses, not family farms. However, as I have noted before, we are paying $5 a head for lettuce, just not at the grocery store. We're paying it in taxes to educate the children of illegal immigrants, in health care costs, in law enforcement, in quality of life, such as dealing with overcrowded housing, etc.

Ralph (not verified)

Thu, 01/26/2006 - 13:13

The price of lettuce on supermarket shelves would likely change little. The big difference would be the origin of said lettuce. US farmers would be wiped out by foreign competition if they were forced to pay significantly higher wages.

Jake Jacobsen (not verified)

Wed, 01/25/2006 - 17:56

Hey LoneW,

I've worked as a chef and a cook for twenty years, while that doesn't necessarily make me an expert on growing crops I do have a lot of hands on with ordering commercially and you tend to see how the market works without a lot of middlemen involved.

The only thing that has ever actually affected prices was bad weather and I have heard of many alleged labor shortages over the years, never affected the price by a penny that I'm aware of.

I just cannot believe labor accounts for over 50% of the cost of a head of lettuce. That just flies in the face of reason, especially considering what they pay their workers. Having managed and owned a business that is by any definition a bad business model.

I have met growers, and they look fat, rich and sassy. If I had to guess I think they're doing okay profit wise and could stand to pay a little better.

Keep up the great work!
Jake

PS-I don't know if Brian Bonner has contacted you, we're starting a blog alliance for immigration blogs. please let me know if you're interested.