[Mrs. Don-o]

I don't know what the exact figures are now, but a couple of years ago the amount of the price of a head of lettuce that went to a field worker was about 4 cents. If you were to even double this, the difference would be literally undetectable to the consumer --- and this overtime bit isn't going to double wages.

The main determinant of prices in the fruit and vegetable business is still supply and demand. Have a fabulous, ginormous crop and you lose money because the glut on the market makes the price skid toward zero. Widespread crop failure, on the other hand, means that producers with something to ship to market can make out like bank robbers.

[Vigilanteman]

FWIW, we've started eating a lot less lettuce and a lot more cabbage. Not only does cabbage have a higher nutritional value, it can be grown locally and for a lot cheaper than lettuce.

PA also grows superb peaches and apples in the Chambersburg-Gettysburg area. You either have to find a farmer's market close in SW PA which sells them or drive over. Most of the crop is sold to higher bidders along the densely populated I-95 corridor.

Believe it or not, most of our local supermarkets sell fruit trucked in from the west coast, except the citrus which comes from Florida or Texas.