Egyptian Lettuce for Export
Through the depths of winter, when European field lettuce disappears and protected crops get expensive, Egypt steps in with dense, well-formed Iceberg and crisp Romaine grown in the cool season of the Delta and the reclaimed desert farms. Mild sunny days and cold nights from November to April are close to ideal for lettuce: heads size up slowly, stay compact and develop the crunch and clean flavour foodservice and retail buyers pay for. Egypt has become a recognised counter-season origin for the UK, Northern Europe and the Gulf precisely for this reason.
PEIVANA runs lettuce as a program crop — planted, harvested and cooled against confirmed orders. And because we are the flexible Egyptian exporter, buyers who need ten pallets of Iceberg rather than a full container can pair it with other winter vegetables in one mixed reefer, keeping freight efficient without inflating commitments.
Varieties & Grades
Two main lines: Iceberg (firm, well-wrapped heads, trimmed and film-wrapped individually or naked-packed) and Romaine/Cos (full heads or hearts, prized for sweetness and rib crunch). Grading is by head weight and compactness, with strict removal of tip-burn, insect damage and loose or spiralled heads. Baby leaf and little gem programs can be discussed for committed volumes.
Sizes, Packing & Palletization
| Spec | Typical options |
|---|---|
| Iceberg head weight | 350–500 g and 500–700 g bands |
| Packs | Iceberg: 8–12 heads per carton, film-wrapped; Romaine: 8–10 heads or twin-pack hearts |
| Pallets | Euro or standard pallets, vacuum- or forced-air cooled before loading |
| 40ft reefer | 20–24 pallets depending on carton height |
Season & Availability
The Egyptian lettuce window runs November through April. Staggered sowings keep cutting continuous across the season, and volumes peak in the January–March period when Northern Hemisphere supply gaps are widest.
Logistics & Shipping
Lettuce is unforgiving of temperature abuse, so heads are cooled to near 0°C within hours of cutting and shipped in reefers at 0–2°C with high humidity. Short, fast lanes matter: Alexandria and Damietta serve Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean on direct services, while Sokhna and Port Said cover Gulf destinations within about a week. Air freight is available for premium programs.
Quality & Documentation
Shipments include a phytosanitary certificate and certificate of origin as standard. Crops come from GLOBALG.A.P-certified partner farms with documented water and residue monitoring, and packing runs through HACCP/ISO-certified facilities with unbroken cold chain to the vessel. QC reports with core temperatures and photos accompany every loading.
Why Buy From PEIVANA
PEIVANA gives lettuce buyers three practical advantages: mixed containers that combine Iceberg and Romaine with cucumbers, tomatoes or other winter lines in one booking; mid-size program volumes below the big exporters’ minimums; and same-day answers on cutting schedules, specs and freight.
Secure your counter-season lettuce program early — request a quote and we will respond with availability and packing options the same day.
