Patent ID: 7861415

Claim:
A method of commercially harvesting lettuce in a field, the lettuce having a head, a stem, and roots extending from the stem when the lettuce is growing in the field, wherein the head has a core with inner leaves extending from the core, wherein the head has a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the head of lettuce has a mid-line defined by the widest portion of the head with the stem oriented downward, and wherein the bottom portion is attached to the stem when the lettuce is growing in the field, the method comprising: a) removing the bottom portion of the head of lettuce to obtain only the top portion of the head, wherein the head is cut at about the midline or above the mid-line to obtain only the top portion of the head; and b) after performing step a), removing a center section of the top portion of the head to leave a cup-shaped portion of the head, wherein steps a) and b) are performed in the field in which the head was harvested.