Arabfields, Ingrid Anker, Correspondent, Norway — Staay Food Group is looking beyond traditional iceberg lettuce as growers and suppliers face a more difficult growing environment, with heatwaves, drought and unpredictable availability putting pressure on one of Europe’s most familiar salad crops.

The Dutch fresh produce company is promoting hydroponically grown lettuce as an alternative, with its Salatrio concept bringing together Lollo Rossa, Lollo Bionda and oak leaf lettuce in a single head. The product is grown with its root ball attached, allowing consumers to harvest only what they need while keeping the remainder fresh for longer.

For shoppers, the idea is simple. Instead of buying a whole head and watching unused leaves deteriorate in the refrigerator, they can pick leaves as they go. That practical difference could become increasingly important as households remain sensitive to food prices and waste.

The wider lettuce market is already showing signs of strain. European Union production averaged about 2.29 million tonnes a year between 2020 and 2024, while Spain accounted for 41.6 per cent of total EU production during the period. In 2025, Spain exported almost 499.4 million kg of lettuce to other EU countries, representing roughly half of the bloc’s total intra-EU lettuce supply.

Iceberg has also faced a challenging period. Market data for the 12 months through 2025 showed global iceberg volumes falling by more than 10 per cent year on year, to about 2.08 billion lb. In 2026, supply pressure has remained visible, with iceberg and romaine markets experiencing shortages in several producing regions.

Those figures help explain why alternatives are attracting attention. Hydroponic production gives growers greater control over temperature, water and growing conditions, while Staay says its system can reduce water consumption by up to 90 per cent through recycling. The company also produces hydroponic lettuce locally in the Netherlands throughout the year.

For people working with fresh produce, the attraction is not only technical. A retailer wants reliable supply, a grower needs a crop that can cope with changing conditions, and a consumer wants lettuce that remains useful after it reaches the kitchen. The same product therefore has to solve several problems at once.

The approach is already familiar to Staay. The company introduced Salatrio in 2006 and received a Fruit Logistica Innovation Award in 2013 for its cultivation concept. Its hydroponic range has since expanded beyond the original three-leaf combination, with varieties including butterhead, Lollo Rossa, Lollo Bionda, romaine and oak leaf lettuce.

The direction of travel is becoming clearer in 2026. European growers are paying greater attention to varieties that can withstand disease and environmental stress, while retailers are looking for products that offer consistency throughout the year. At the same time, consumers continue to expect freshness and convenience without a major increase in price.

If these pressures persist, alternative lettuce types are likely to take a larger role in the European market over the coming years. Hydroponic production is unlikely to replace iceberg entirely, but the combination of controlled cultivation, reduced water use, longer freshness and greater variety could give products such as Salatrio a stronger position on supermarket shelves.

For Staay, the bet is that the future of lettuce will not depend on one traditional variety. It may instead belong to producers capable of offering several types, grown more efficiently and delivered with enough freshness to make every leaf count.