Compliance Costs Surge for CA Lettuce Growers
Growing lettuce and looking at your break-even? It’s not the most fun calculation, is it?
According to a recent study commissioned by the Monterey County Farm Bureau, the cost to California’s lettuce growers of complying with the state’s environmental, labor and food safety regulations has surged 63.7% over the past seven years, reaching $1,600 per acre and accounting for more than 12% of their production costs.
That is according to a summary of the study coming form California Farm Bureau. They report that since 2006, compliance costs have risen by 1,366%. Despite this, lettuce growers saw just a 0.37% increase in market prices for their products from 2017 to 2024, highlighting the growing financial strain on the sector.
Prepared by two Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, professors, data was collected on the cost impact of various regulatory changes including those in the areas of food safety, air and water quality, labor health and safety, and wages.
To get a full rundown of the just-released findings, visit https://montereycfb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Regulatory-Compliance-Costs-Study-012225.pdf.
