Calmar is a new crisphead lettuce belonging to the traditional Great Lakes varietal type. It is equal to or surpasses Great Lakes 118 in many characteristics, including uniformity of maturity, and is also resistant to downy mildew. About 10,000 acres of Calmar were estimated to have been planted for harvest in 1964 in the Salinas-Watsonville district and a larger acreage is predicted for the 1965 season.

Financial assistance for lettuce breeding research has been obtained annually from the Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association of Central California, Salinas, and many lettuce growers in the State furnished land for field experiments and assumed other expenses in this program.