BUYER'S GUIDE: 4th Sept - 10th Sept
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Blood Oranges (QLD) *Mandarin (QLD) * Orange - juicing (NSW) * Pineapple (QLD) * Rockmelon (QLD/NT) * Strawberries- medium (QLD)
Vegetable: Baby Dutch Carrots (NSW) * Beetroot- large (QLD) * Celeriac (VIC) * Fennel Bulb- large (VIC) * Sweetcorn (QLD) * Zucchini (QLD)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: New Season Asparagus- medium (VIC) * Honey Pear (VIC) * New Season Mangoes- VIP (NT) * Mulberries (NSW) * Pineapple- rough skin (QLD)
Vegetable: Cime De Rapa (NSW) * Jalapeno Chilli- green (QLD) * Sorrel- red vein (VIC) * Witlof- white (VIC) * Zucchini Flower- with fruit (NSW)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Expensive: Limes
Poor Quality: Pomegranate
Short Supply & Expensive: Butter Beans- yellow
Not Available: USA Cherries (season over) * Dragon Fruit * Chestnut Mushrooms
BUYER'S GUIDE: 28th Aug - 3rd Sept
MARKET SUMMARY: Fruit
The Buy list: Delicious Apples, Hass Avocadoes, Blueberries, Cumquats, Kiwifruit, Mandarins, Blood Oranges, Passionfruit, Packham Pears, Pineapples, Rhubarb, Rockmelons & QLD Strawberries.
The Watch List: Grapes (Quality), Figs (PRICE), Honeydew (Price), Lime (Price), Red Papaya (Price), Seedless Watermelons (Price & Quality).
Market Insights: NT Mangoes season has commenced and it is good quality for early season fruit. The first of the early season Stonefruit “Peaches” are on market, quality is 4/10 but indicates the season is not far off. The main lines to watch this week are Honeydews & Seedless watermelons (price and quality) & Red Papaya (price). USA cherries are all over for this season, next available will be Australian fruit in November, with best quality arriving closer to Xmas.
MARKET SUMMARY: Vegetables
The Buy list: Beetroot, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Cime Di Rapa, Chinese Leaf Veg, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Leeks, Yam Oka, Zucchini , Spuds & Sweet Potatoes.
The Watch List: Capsicums (Quality & Price), Eggplant (Price), Gold Squash (Price), Tomatoes (Price) & Jarradale Pumpkin (Price).
Market Insights: Capsicums are having supply issues which is pushing prices up, will see this change next week. Green Peas are available just limited in supply and quality. Sweetcorn is over its supply problems and is coming back in to the fold daily. New season Jumbo Asparagus has commenced and it is JUMBO. Also Edible flowers are slowly rolling in, seeing more variety on market each week. Zucchini Flowers are also back in the fold.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Blueberries (NSW) * Mandarin (QLD) * Packham Pears (VIC) * Pineapple (QLD) * Strawberries- large (QLD)
Vegetable: Beetroot- large (QLD) * Celery (VIC) * Chat Potatoes (SA) * Green Beans (QLD) * Zucchini (QLD)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: Baby Pineapples - with stems (QLD) * Banana Leaves (QLD) * Blackberries (NSW) * New Season Mangoes- VIP (NT) * Plate Strawberries- VIP (QLD)
Vegetable: Broad Beans (NSW) * Cime de Rapa (NSW) * Truss Tomatoes- blush petite (NSW) * Radicchio (NSW) * Sorrel- red vein (VIC)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Expensive: Limes
Short Supply & Expensive: Honeydew * Butter Beans- yellow
Not Available: USA Cherries * Dragon Fruit * Chestnut Mushrooms
BUYER'S GUIDE: 21st Aug - 27th Aug
MARKET SUMMARY: Fruit
The Buy list: Apples, Blueberries, Cumquats, Kiwifruit, Mandarins, Nashi Pears, Oranges, Passionfruit, Red Papaya, Pineapples, Rhubarb, and QLD Strawberries.
The Watch List: Honeydews, Seedless Melons, Limes, Raspberries. Honeydews are short in supply. Lime quality is sound, supply is shortening and price is on the up. Raspberries, supply available just expensive. The quality of Seedless Watermelons is about 7/10.
Market Insights: It’s a good week for fruit with most lines in good supply and well priced. New Season mangoes are available but just not eating at their best yet. New season USA Seedless Grapes are having a few issues with quality, early season QLD grapes are available but quality is nothing special. Figs are still available as well. Overall a good week for Fruit.
MARKET SUMMARY: Vegetables
The Buy list: Beetroot, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Celeriac, Chinese Leaf Vegs, Telegraph Cucumbers, Fennel, Micro Herbs, Leeks, Gourmet salads, Kale, Kohl Rabi, Sweet Potatoes, Spuds and Onions.
The Watch List: Red & Green Capsicums, Cos Lettuce, Sweet Corn, Fresh Green Peas and All Tomatoes.
Market Insights: Sweet Corn is very short in supply, will see this change by next Monday. Tomatoes still short & expensive but will see relief by end of next week, same with Red & Green Capsicums.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Blood Oranges (QLD) * Blueberries (NSW) * Kiwifruit (NZ) * Pineapple (QLD) * Strawberries- large (QLD)
Vegetable: Cauliflower (QLD) * Celeriac (VIC) * Leek - large (SA) * Potato- brushed chip (NSW) * Wild Rocket (VIC)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: Baby Pineapples - with stems (QLD) * Dates- California (USA) * Gold Kiwifruit (NZ * Mangosteen (IMP) * Plate Strawberries - VIP (QLD)
Vegetable: Baby Garlic (NSW) * Cime de Rapa (NSW) * Kale-coloured (NSW) * Kohlrabi (NSW) * Sorrel - red vein (VIC)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply: Namenko Mushroom
Short Supply & Expensive: Honeydew * Sweetcorn
Not Available: Dragonfruit * Finger Fennel * Chestnut Mushroom
SPRING’S BOUNTY
Q: Why is Australian white asparagus priced significantly higher than green?
The end of August is always a period of transition for food lovers, however this year seems especially tough- cold weather along the Eastern Seaboard is slowing supply and hiking up prices on a long list of produce items, ironically just in time for the start of the busy season and there is absolutely nothing on TV that comes close to filling the void left by the Olympics. To put the Spring back in your step and assist with menu planning for the next few months, here are our produce highlights for the coming season. We have included some nutritional information as there’s nothing like feeling good about what you’re eating to make it taste even better on the palate.
SPRING FLAVOURS:
ASPARAGUS:
The arrival of the Australian Asparagus season is getting closer with quality spears predicted to arrive at the markets for the first week of September. In particular the arrival of the sweet, tender, home-grown white asparagus is much anticipated due to its premium quality, texture and gourmet aesthetic.
Supply: Early crops from QLD, main crop from VIC
Green Asparagus: all year, Australian produce best Sept- Dec
Baby Green Asparagus: all year, best Sept- Dec
Purple Asparagus: Oct- Dec
White Asparagus: Sept – Jan
Feel Good Factor: excellent source of Vitamin C & E, dietary fibre, folate and potassium
Inspiration: Confit of Suffolk lamb loin, fresh milk curd, asparagus, spring onions, broad beans, young leeks, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, hazelnuts, quinoa, pea flowers, nasturtiums – Peter Gilmore via Lifestyle Food
AUSTRALIAN GARLIC:
Australian Garlic is world’s apart from the imported product available throughout the year and its season is something I have come to get excited about and support every year by paying a premium price for a premium product. For a more comprehensive overview of the garlic varieties currently grown in Australia, their seasonality and characteristics, click here.
Supply: Main growing regions are SA, VIC ,NSW with some early crops from QLD
Australian Garlic Season: October - May
Spring Garlic: available October
Green Garlic: available November
Feel Good Factor: natural antibiotic, also assists in management of blood pressure & cholesterol
Inspiration: Tamworth pork terrine, roast garlic purée, deep fried egg and artichoke – Kevin Mangeolles via Great British Chefs
MANGOES:
Early Northern Territory mangoes are already arriving at the markets and while they are not yet great eating, it is a sign of the luscious, warm weather and tropical flavours to come. Sydney Markets will be holding its annual mango auction on September 5th heralding the official opening of the mango season, last year the auction raised $30,000 ($2,500/mango) for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and Westmead Children's Hospital. For more information on mango varieties and Australian seasons click here
Supply: NT opens the season (peaking around October), before main producer QLD enters the market around November
Feel Good Factor: very high in Vit C and A. Rich source of beta-carotene, fibre and potassium
Inspiration: Mango salsa and coconut heart salad recipe- Peter Kuravita via SBS Food
SHISO LEAF: aka Perillo
Shiso Leaf is available in red and green varieties, the red (with its anise and subtle mint flavour) is the most popular in Australia and is used widely in Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine (where traditionally the leaves were used to dye pickled ume or were mixed with ume paste in sushi). While available pretty much all year, Shiso is at its best Nov – Mar
Supply: SG&S predominantly sources our Shiso from local NSW producers
Feel Good Factor: high in calcium, iron and potassium, rich in fiber, very high in Vit A and C. Believed to have anti-inflammatory properties
Inspiration: Duck yakitori with pumpkin, shiso and daikon salad and plum dipping sauce – via Gourmet Traveller
PEPINO: aka Sweet Pepino, Melon Pear
Spring is undeniably the start of the mango and stonefruit season but if you’re looking for something different why not try the pepino. With its distinctive purple stripes, yellow flesh and a juicy flavour reminiscent of melon, banana and pear (depending on who you ask)– it is perfect for spicing up the breakfast menu or adding a twist to sweet and savoury spring salads.
Supply: QLD produces fruit in Spring and Autumn
Feel Good Factor: good source offibre, Vitamin A, B and C
Inspiration: Wild Mexican Shrimp Escabeche with Pepino Melon, Popped Corn, Jicama Salsa - Bernard Guillas via Restaurant Hospitality
Yam Oka: aka NZ Yam, Oka Yam, Oca
Originally from South America, these sweet tubers offer a wonderful alternative to winter root vegetable lines with their smaller size, tangy, nut flavour and silky texture. Eat with the skin on to get maximum nutritional value, the skin is thin and edible and ensures the yam holds shape when cooked.
Supply: coming from QLD, best in July (season runs for 6-8 weeks)
Feel Good Factor: good source offibre, Vitamin A, B and C
Inspiration: Yam, kumara and pumpkin coconut curry
Other items of note for Spring: As the weather warms, the markets will start to come alive with tropical fruits and a wider range of vegetables. Other items to watch out for this Spring include stonefruit (Oct/Nov), berries, chillies, sweetcorn, radishes, edible flowers, watercress and okra.
A: There are two reasons. Firstly, the Australian white asparagus season is brief and given its popularity among food-service professionals (and increasingly with home cooks) demand tends to outstrip supply. The second reason is production costs. To achieve its colour, white asparagus is grown in the dark, preventing sunlight from turning the shoots green. Traditionally this was achieved by keeping the asparagus crown submerged beneath a mound of dirt and using specialised equipment to blind harvest– which led to reduced yields as it was difficult to perform without damaging the crop. Many Australian farmers now employ an innovative system that sees white asparagus grown beneath black polyhouses- essentially a large dark greenhouse, a huge step forward, this farming method achieves wonderful colour, flavour and allows for simpler harvesting practices.
BUYER'S GUIDE: 14th Aug - 20th Aug
MARKET SUMMARY: Fruit
The Buy list: Apples, Bananas, Blueberries, Ruby Grapefruit, Kiwifruit, Mandarins, Oranges, All Pears, Blood Oranges, Papaw, Passionfruit, Pineapples & Strawberries.
The Watch List: Honeydews, Seedless Watermelons, Papaya & Figs.
Market Insights: USA Cherries coming to an end this week, as are Australian Grapes- quality is ok on both without being remarkable. Seedless New Season USA Red, Black & White Grapes are available with pricing back this week, more of the same in coming weeks. Figs are available but limited in supply and expensive.
Honeydews are very short and will stay this way for the next 4 weeks, quality Seedless Watermelons are expensive and size is medium. Red Papaya has shot up this week, the good news is there is ample supply of Pawpaw which is well priced to cover.
Rockmelons, Pineapples and Papaw best subs for Honeydews and Seedless Watermelons.
MARKET SUMMARY: Vegetables
The Buy list: Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Celery, Chicory, Chinese Leaf Veg, Leeks, All Gourmet Salad Mix, Swedes, Gold Sweet Potatoes, All Spuds Red, White & Gourmet, Salad Onions and Green Zucchini.
The Watch List: Green Beans, Broccoli, Red Capsicums, Sweet Corn and all Tomatoes.
Market Insights: New Season Australian Asparagus is just a few weeks away, by early September we should see the first arrivals. Meanwhile the Australian Truffle season is in its closing stages. We are still feeling the effect of past poor weather with Broccoli, Red Capsicums and good quality Tomatoes in short supply and in the high dollar zone. All quality Tomatoes will stay this way for the next 2 weeks, Green Beans, Broccoli, Red Capsicums and Sweet Corn will drift back by early next week.
The quality of the best buy lines are excellent, priced to suit with good colour range.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Blueberries (NSW) *Kiwifruit (NZ) * Mandarin (QLD) * Pawpaw- yellow (QLD) * Strawberries- large (QLD)
Vegetable: Beetroot-large (QLD) * Brussel Sprouts (VIC) * Celeriac (VIC) * Chat Potatoes- desiree (SA) * Zucchini- green (QLD)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: Apples- royal gala (NSW) * Beurre Bosc Pears (VIC) * Blood Oranges (QLD) * Cumquats (QLD) * Grapes - red seedless (USA) * Honey Pears (VIC) * Strawberries - VIP (QLD)
Vegetable: Chicory (NSW) * Okra (NT) * Tuscan Cabbage (NSW)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply: Vine Sweet Baby Capsicum * Zucchini Flowers
Short Supply & Expensive: Honeydew * Sweetcorn
Not Available: Dragonfruit * Finger Fennel
BUYER'S GUIDE: 7th Aug - 13th Aug
FRUIT: Market Summary
The Buy list: All Apples, Blueberries, Kiwifruit, Oranges, Passionfruit, Pawpaw & Papaya, Rhubarb, Ruby Grapefruit and QLD Strawberries.
The Watch List: Honeydew supply is very short this week- quality is nothing special with quality product going for big money. Rockmelons are back in price with the NT season switching on and quality improving. Both Seedless and Long Watermelons are holding in price for quality items.
Market Insights: USA Cherry season is about to end. New Season USA Seedless Grapes have commenced. The first of the New Season NT Mangoes are on the markets this week, however it will be another 3 weeks before regular supplies become available.
VEGETABLES: Market Summary
The Buy list: Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Chinese Vegies, Leeks, Mushrooms, Parsnips, Mesclun, Wild Rocket & Gourmet Baby Spinach, All Spuds, Sweet Potatoes and Zucchini.
The Watch List: Green Beans (quality), Sweetcorn, Lebanese & Telegraph Cucumbers and Tomatoes (all lines) are in short supply and expensive. This will turnaround within 2 weeks as the QLD weather warms up following forecasts of clear skies!
Market Insights: The Australian Asparagus season will commence end of August/early September. Local Red & Green Cabbage is on the shorter side but supply and demand are matched. SA Onion season is on the down-hill run, will finish in 3 weeks.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Apples- delicious (VIC) * Blood Oranges (QLD) * Pawpaw- yellow (QLD) * Pineapple (QLD) * Strawberries - large (QLD)
Vegetable: Celeriac (VIC) * Fennel bulb- large (VIC) * Portabello Mushroom (NSW) * Sweet Potato - large (QLD) * Wild Rocket (VIC)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: Beurre Bosc Pears (VIC) * Cumquats (QLD) * Green Mango (QLD) * Mangosteen (IMP) * Starfruit- aka Carambola (QLD)
Vegetable: Baby Endive (VIC) * King Brown Mushrooms (IMP) * Purple Jester Potatoes (TAS) * Treviso (NSW) * White Daikon- radish (NSW)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply: Butter Bean - yellow * Sweetcorn
Expensive: Baby Green beans * Honeydew
Not Available: Dragonfruit
BUYER'S GUIDE: 31st Jul - 6th Aug
The overall market is in winter mode and will hold like this for the next few weeksThis will change once the weather warms up in QLD, which is usually around August.
FRUIT: Market Overview
- Ones to watch out for are the melons: Water, Seedless, Rocks & Honeydew. We will see a change by week's end as the NT season kicks in and supply increases however price is expected to remain in the 'high' zone
- Bananas are up slightly due to the cold temp up North
- Local grapes are on the way out- Seeded Black still good buying, Seedless Red & White are now New Season Imported USA fruit
- Citrus is in full swing- Lemon and Limes slightly up, Blood Oranges, Ruby Grapefruit and Oranges- great quality, good eating and priced to suit
VEG: Market Overview
- The cooler temperatures up North are slowing supply on the following lines this week and prices are up; Beans, Green Capsicums, Lebanese Cucumbers, Celery, all Pumpkin, all Tomatoes (ripened fruit hard to source) and Zucchini.
- Picks for the week: Beetroot, Broccoli, Cauliflowers, Carrots, Celeriac, Mushrooms, Parsnips, Silverbeet and Spuds.
- Also most gourmet salad lines are back to normal supply and price
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Grapes - black seeded (VIC) * Ruby Grapefruit (QLD) * Kiwifruit (NZ) * Mandarins (QLD) * Persimmon (Imp- NZ)
Vegetable: Baby Fennel- bulb (NSW) * Brussel Sprouts (NSW) * Celeriac (VIC) * Portabello Mushroom (NSW) * Sugarsnap Peas (Imp)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: Buddha Hands (QLD) * Cumquats (QLD) * Grapes- green seedless (Imp- USA) * Green Mangoes (QLD)
Vegetable: Borlotti Beans (QLD) * Choi Sum (NSW) * Jicama aka Water Chestnut (QLD) * Namenko Mushroom (NSW) * Red Banana Capsicum (QLD) * Shimeji Mushroom (NSW)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply: Butter Bean - yellow * Guava- cooking
Expensive: Honeydew (expensive) * Rockmelon (expensive)
End of Season: Quince
Not Available: Chestnut Mushroom * Baby Ginger
BUYER'S GUIDE: 24th Jul - 30th Jul
With the market as erratic as the recent weather along the Eastern Seaboard, here is our guide to produce for this week:
FRUIT: Market Overview
- Apples and Pears have stepped up in price, quality and supply no problems.
- Navel Oranges, Grapefruit and Lemons all travelling well, limes holding, Mandarins have firmed due to changing varieties and weather.
- Bananas are affected due to cold nights and wet weather in QLD. Sizing is medium to large.
- Rockmelons & Honeydews are still in short supply and up in price for quality.
- QLD Strawberries have been affected by the weather. Supplies holding with some quality issues.
- All Pineapples have been severely affected due the cold and wet weather, will be the same for the next few weeks.
- Kiwifruits, Pawpaw & Papaya are good eating, well supplied and priced to suit.
- USA cherries excellent quality and good buying
- Figs are in short supply and expensive
- For something different, Cumquats and Buddha hands
- Dried Muscatels are at the end of the season NA
VEG: Market Overview
- Broccoli, Cauliflowers, Iceberg & Cos on the buy list for the week. Quality and price, good to go!
- Gourmet salads, Spinach, Rocket & Mesclun still on the watch list for the next few weeks. Supply limited and quality is ok, prices holding.
- Green & Butter Beans are on the short list, quality is a problem.
- Eggplant, Squash and Zucchini have been affected due to cold snaps and rain, will remain short for the next couple of weeks.
- All pumpkin varieties on the increase.
- All Spuds are in full swing- good buying and great quality.
- Something Different- Broad & Borletti beans & Fennel!
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Blood Oranges (QLD) *Cherries (Imp- US) * Corella Pears (VIC) * Kiwifruit - bulk (Imp- NZ) * Paw Paw - yellow (QLD)
Vegetable: Broad Beans (NSW) * Broccoli (QLD) * Cauliflower (QLD) * Fennel Bulb- large (VIC) * Iceberg Lettuce (QLD)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: Buddha Hands (QLD) * Carambola- aka Starfruit (QLD) * Cumquats (QLD) * Dragon Fruit- yellow (QLD)
Vegetable: Borlotti Bean (QLD) * Broad Beans (NSW) * Namenko Mushroom (NSW) * Red Witlof (VIC) * Radicchio Lettuce (NSW) * Russet Burbank Potatoes (TAS)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply: Chestnut Mushrooms * Pineapple (expensive) * Rockmelon
Not Available: Asparagus - jumbo * Butter Bean - yellow * Muscatel Grapes - dried
BUYER'S GUIDE: 17th Jul - 23rd Jul
Due to extreme weather patterns over the last 6-8 weeks many lines of fresh produce have been heavily affected. The wet weather experienced before winter delayed plantings, this was followed by extended cool nights, frosts and then more heavy rain.
FRUIT: Market Overview
- Apples and Pears will be unaffected due to the majority of fruit coming out of cold storage
- Citrus fruits (incl. Navel Oranges, Grapefruit and Lemons) are unaffected, yet limes will be firm. Mandarins will be firm due to changing varieties more so than weather
- Avocados and Bananas are affected mostly due to the cold nights rather than the wet . Sizing will remain small and skin dull in colour
- Melons are adversely affected due to the cold nights and rain. NT Honeydew and Rocks are due to start at the end of this week- 19/20 July
- Strawberries have been affected, quality concerns expect
- Pineapples and Bethonga have been severely affected due to lack of sun, cold weather, rain and the inability of growers to pick. Pineapples will be extremely short supply for the next 2-3 weeks
- Blueberries and raspberries are also affected and will remain expensive for the next couple of weeks
VEG: Market Overview
- Wet lines such as iceberg, Cos and celery should be ok. Broccoli has shortened mainly due to the cold. Cauliflowers will have issues
- Salad lines have been severely affected. Rocket is very difficult to get, and Mesclun and baby Spinach have increased in price. These lines will be short for the next 2-3 weeks
- Capsicum have been affected- reds and yellows will have some quality issues. Pricing is stable
- All cabbage lines have been affected due to the inability for farmers to get to the fields to pick. Prices will rise sharply but not for long.
- Beans and Corn have issues in quality and supply. Good beans will be scarce and expensive. Due to the rains, corn hasn’t been sprayed and we are expected to find grubs
- Eggplant, Squash and Zucchini have been affected due to the cold and rain and will remain short for the next couple of weeks
- Cucumbers are good and have not suffered much
- All pumpkin varieties have been affected, especially Jap and Butternut. Theses lines will be in short supply for 3-4 more weeks
- Snow peas and snaps have been affected but pricing remains reasonable
- All Chinese vegetables have been adversely affected. There is planting gaps from previous rain falls. Short supply is another issue.
- Fancy lettuces are smaller in size and in short supply
- Herbs – Basil , chives , mint have been affected but these lines are quick to recover
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Avocado (QLD) * Kiwifruit - bulk (Imp- NZ) * Oranges - large (QLD) * Panama Passionfruit (QLD)
Vegetable: Broad Beans (NSW) * Celery (VIC) * Parsnip * Telegraph Cucumber (SA) * Russett Burbank Potato (TAS)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: Cherries (Imp-US) * Blood Oranges (QLD) * Green Mangoes (NT) * Pomello (QLD) * Red Papaya (QLD) * Tamarillo - red (WA)
Vegetable: Borlotti Bean (QLD) * Namenko Mushroom (NSW) * Red Witlof (VIC)
Other: Black Truffles (WA- New Season)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply: Butter bean- yellow * Chestnut Mushrooms
Short Supply & Expensive: Mesclun Lettuce * Pineapple * Wild Rocket
Expensive: Rockmelon
BUYER'S GUIDE: 10th Jul - 16th Jul
Another fun week at the farm!
Rockmelons, Honeydews and Pineapples are in short supply and up in price. The NT season gets underway this week so Rocks and Honeys should come back in to play mid-late next week, whereas Pines look like they will sit here for the next few weeks. On the Vegies side, Zucchini and Beans are short supply and expensive.
The QLD season is well under way and as of today the market is fully supplied with Capsicums, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Avocadoes, Mandarins and Sweet Potatoes. Beans and Sweet Corn will follow as of next week.
Stick with the Picks!
Market: at a glance
Fruit: Apples, Citrus, Avocados, Ruby Grapefruit, NZ Kiwifruit, Mandarins, Blood Oranges, IMP Mangoes and Cherries, Pawpaw & Papaya, Panama Passion and WA Tamarillo’s. Grapes, good without being great. White Seedless- FORGET IT! USA here in 2 weeks.
Veg: Artichokes, Beetroot, All Cabbage, Red & Green Caps, Celeriac, Eggplant, Cos Lettuce, Asian Veg, Silverbeet, Sweet Corn, Large Red & Brown Onions & plenty of Heirloom Tomatoes this week!
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Blood Orange * Cherries (Imp- USA) * Green Papaya - cooking (QLD) * Mandarin (QLD) * Panama Passionfruit (QLD)
Vegetable: Broad Beans (NSW) * Desiree - chat potatoes (SA) * Heirloom Tomatoes (NSW) * Sweetcorn (QLD) * Telegraph Cucumber (SA)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: Bananas - cooking (QLD) * Banana Leaves (QLD) * Blood Oranges (QLD) * Drinking Coconut (Imp) * Feijoas (QLD) * Green Mangoes (NT) * Persimmon (New Season - NZ Imp) * Tamarillos - red (WA)
Vegetable: Red Witlof (VIC)
Other: Black Truffles (WA- New Season)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply: Chestnut Mushrooms * Chives * Pencil Leeks
Expensive: Pineapples * Rockmelon * Yellow Squash