BUYER'S GUIDE: 31st Jan 2012 - 6th Feb 2012

As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:

Good supplies all round this week. There has been some quality issues due to the rain, but still plenty to chose from.

Fruit:

The weather has hit Strawberries hard this week. Nectarines and Peaches have also seen a slight kick up in price.

New Season Apples are now in. Melons are good quality, good eating and well priced.

If you're looking for something different try Green Cooking Mangos, Lychees, Rambo’s, Starfruit and USA Navels...Very Sweet!

Vegetables:

Some ups and downs this week. in terms of supply and price

Price of Asparagus is back down with some Summer crop from VIC hitting the market. Broccoli and lettuce are also down, while Caulies and Celery are up just a touch.

All in all clear sailing for the week ahead

 

BEST BUYS:

Fruit:

Apricot (TAS)

Black Seedless Grapes (VIC)

Fig Tray (NSW)

Navel Oranges (USA-Imported) - very sweet!!

New Season Royal Gala apples (NSW)

Vegetables:

Capsicum - red (QLD)

Eggplant (NSW)

Snow Peas (NSW)

Sweet Corn (NSW) - honey sweet!!

Zucchini - green (NSW)

 

SOMETHING DIFFERENT:

New Season Baby/Young Ginger (QLD)

New Season Beurre Bosc Pears (VIC)

New Season Birdseye Chillies- red (NSW)

Bitter Melon/Gourd (QLD)

Dragon Fruit (QLD)

Kaffir Lime Leaves (QLD)

Papaya - green/cooking (QLD)

Rambutan (QLD)

Royal Blue Potatoes (SA)

Salsify- black (SA)

 

NOT THIS WEEK:

Short Supply:

Heirloom tomatoes

Not Available:

Baby Leeks

Globe Artichokes

Mangosteen

Purple Asparagus


YEAR OF THE DRAGON

Q: Why is 2012 said to be a powerful year?

2012 is well and truly here, as are the doom and gloom predictions for the global economy... but what does the year of the Water Dragon really have in store?

Traditionally the Year of the Dragon encourages growth and change, making it the ideal time for an innovative leader to reap great rewards. But with big banks shedding staff, European countries going bankrupt and consumers warned to pinch pennies; we need to start working smarter not harder. While it may be sacrilege to say this on Burns Day, it’s time to stop doing things “For Auld Lang Syne” (“for the sake of old times”), challenge the status quo and make our dollar work for us.

 Here’s our top 3 tips on how to work smart , not hard for your produce in 2012:

 TIP 1: WALK THE DOCK

While systems like Marketboomer are a convenient, cost-saving tool; beware of comparing apples with oranges. Not all suppliers specify the number of kilos per bag or lettuce per case- which can skew your results. So, while it may appear to be cheaper on paper, if you’re a Boomer, the best way to ensure you’re getting the best value product is to walk the dock.

(Just quietly, at SG&S we specify items/case and weight/bag, so you know what you’re getting every time)

TIP 2: MONITOR THE MARKETS

The best way to work smarter with fresh produce is to keep up to date on how weather and supply are impacting market prices and buy accordingly. You can find this info on our Market Muse blog, which hosts buyer’s guides to the markets, produce and service updates.

TIP 3: ORDER ONLINE

Time is a commodity and whether we like it or not, we’re time poor- so save time (and money) and order online. The SG&S online ordering facility is secure, user-friendly and efficient. In addition to lodging orders, you can set product preferences, review pricing and retrieve past orders – all at your convenience.

At SG&S, 2012 will see our team focus on quality, service and price. By listening to our client’s needs and helping them to achieve success, we hope to solidify our position as a market leader! Big thanks to all who took the time to complete our survey. It has given us a great insight into your needs and how we can work smarter for you in 2012. Results to be released on a later blog!

A: 2012, the year of the Dragon is a year of change; having the confidence to take chances and face challenges head on. Having survived the year of the Metal Rabbit, which was full of negotiation, resolving tensions and planning ahead, the year of the Dragon is the time to act on these plans and start to reap the rewards. 


BUYER'S GUIDE: 24/01/12-30/01/12

As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:

Some movement in the market across both fruit and vegetables. The major factors being weather and some items coming to the end of their season.

 Fruit:

New season apples are just starting to appear from QLD.

Plenty of stonefruit  with the introduction or cherries and apricots from Tassie. Seedless grapes are in good supply, sweet and excellent quality. Citrus is a mixed bag.

Mangoes are still in good supply but by half, which has pushed the price up. Pineapples & strawberries are up in price due to the weather. There are plenty of rockmelons, honeydews, watermelons (long and seedless), which are all good buying.

 Vegetables:

Only a few lines have kicked in this week: iceberg, broccoli and asparagus. Everything else is either the same or down on last week. Plenty of colour and lines to chose from.

BEST BUYS:

Fruit:

Fig Tray (NSW)

Green Seedless Grapes (VIC)

Lychee (QLD)

Peach (NSW)

Red Papaya (QLD)

Vegetables:

Chat (Sml) Potatoes (SA)

Green Zucchini (NSW)

Eggplant (NSW)

Shiitaki Mushrooms (IMP)

Snake Beans (NSW)

SOMETHING DIFFERENT:

New Season Apricot (TAS)

New Season Baby (Young) Ginger (QLD)

New Season Beurre Bosc Pears (VIC)

Cherries (TAS)

French Truffles - Extra Class (IMP)

Golden Queen Peaches (VIC)

Green Jalapeno Chillies (QLD)

New Season Pomello (QLD)

Prickly Pear (NSW)

Royal Blue Potatoes (SA)

NOT THIS WEEK:

Short Supply:

Baby Gold Beetroot

Heirloom Tomatoes

Not Available:

Asparagus - No 2 

Baby Leek 

Lotus Root 

 


FRESH FRENCH TRUFFLES ARE HERE!

It's that time of year again! Fresh, aromatic French Truffles have once again reached our shores.

The first delivery arrives on site at SG&S Sydney today... place your orders now! There's no perfume quite like it!

Bon Appétit!!


GONG XI FA CAI- Enter the Year of the Dragon

Fresh Asian products are in good supply this week for Chinese New Year.

We anticipate a drop in supply and push in price after this weekend (for about a week) while the Spring Festival Celebrations take place. These will return to normal by the following week.

Asian Vegetables: Good Supply

Asian Celery - Banana Buds/Bell - Baby Bok Choi - Baby Choi Sum - Betel Leaves - Bitter Melon - Bok Choi - Chinese Broccoli - Chinese Cabbage - Choi Sum - Drinking Coconut - Dry Coconut - Flat Leaf Coriander - Gai Choy - Galangal - Garlic Chives - Garlic Shoots - Green Mangoes - Hairy Melon - Kaffir Lime Leaf - Kaffir Limes - Lemongrass - Long Melon - Luffas - Okra - Ong Choy - Pandan Leaf - Pea Eggplant - Pomelos - Red Eschallots - Shiso Leaf - Sin Que - Snake Beans - Sugar Cane - Taro Root - Thai Basil - Thai Eggplant - Tumeric - Vietnamese Mint - White Radish - Winter Melon

Asian Vegetables: Short Supply

Jicama - Kachay - Water Spinach

Asian Vegetables: Not Available

Asian Plum - Een Choy - JuJu Fruit - Lotus Root - Red Pomelos - Tamarind

Exotic Fruit: Good Supply

Dragonfruit - Figs - Gold Kiwifruit - Kiwifruit - Longan - Lychee - Mango - Mangosteen - Pomegranate - Rambutan - Red Papaya - Star Fruit - Tangellos - Yellow Pawpaw

Exotic Fruit: Not Available

Buddha Hands - Cumquats - Custard Apple - Fuji Fruit - Guava - Loquats - Persimmon - Star Apple - Gold Tamarillos - Red Tamarillos

Enjoy!!


BUYER'S GUIDE: 17/01/12- 23/01/12

As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:

 

BEST BUYS:

Fruit:

Black Seedless Grapes (QLD)

Blueberries- large (NSW)

Fig Tray (NSW)

Nectarines (VIC)

Vegetables:

Cocktail Chat Potatoes (SA)

New Season Sweet Corn (NSW)

Lebanese Cucumber (NSW)

Rhubarb (NSW)

Tomato- small (VIC)

Yellow Squash (QLD)

 

SOMETHING DIFFERENT:

New Season Apricot (TAS)

New Season Beurre Bosc Pears (VIC)

Golden Queen Peaches (VIC)

Kaffir Limes (QLD)

Longan (QLD)

Mandarin - VIP (IMP)

New Season Pomello (QLD)

Bamboo Shoot  (QLD)

Eggplant - seedless (NSW)

French Truffles - Extra Class (IMP)

 

NOT THIS WEEK:

Short Supply:

Baby Gold Beetroot

Heirloom tomatoes

Not Available:

Asparagus - No 2

Lotus Root

Purple Congo Potatoes

 


BUYER'S GUIDE: 10/01/12-16/01/12

As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:

 

Another good week ahead with supply and quality. No change in the range, plenty to choose from and well priced.

 

BEST BUYS:

Fruit:

Black Seedless Grapes (QLD)

Blueberries - large (NSW)

Nectarine (VIC)

Paw Paw- Yellow (QLD)

Plum (NSW)

Vegetables:

Cauliflower (NSW)

Green Beans (QLD)

Sweet Corn (QLD/NSW)

Sweet Potato - Large (QLD)

Roma Tomato (NSW)

 

SOMETHING DIFFERENT:

New Season Cherries (TAS)

Fig Tray (NSW)

Long Melon (QLD)

Papaya - Green/Cooking (QLD)

New Season Paradise Cocktail Pears (VIC)

Sugar Plum (NSW)

Bamboo Shoot (QLD)

Eggplant - Seedless (NSW)

Mandarins - VIP (Imported)

Snake Beans (NSW)

 

NOT THIS WEEK:

 

Short Supply:

Baby Gold Beetroot

Heirloom Tomatoes

Not Available:

Asparagus - No2

Beurre Bosc Pear

Lotus Root