Lettuce is one of the oldest known vegetables and is believed to be native to the Mediterranean area.
Iceberg lettuce was called "Crisphead" until the 1920s. It was renamed when California began transporting large quantities of lettuce underneath mounds of ice to keep them cool. So, this is how Iceberg lettuce got it's name.
Romaine lettuce was named by the Romans who believed it had healthful properties. In fact, the Emperor Ceasar Augustus put up a statue praising lettuce because he believed it cured him from an illness.
Coast of Greece
In Europe, Romaine lettuce is called "Cos." It's named after the Greek island of "Kos" in the Aegean Sea.
In the 1600s, John Winthrop Jr. brought packets of lettuce seed to America from England.
