BUYER'S GUIDE: 13th March - 19th March
Wet weather is still causing major issues with quality and supply. Again it is mainly with the vegetables and the ground grown crops.
Fruit:
Berries and Melons are the most affected- supply and quality. Apples and Pears- no problems, Citrus- just holding up, Grapes- yes and no depending on the growing area. Exotics- some signs of weather, but still ok.
Stonefruit on their last legs, Apricots all O V E R. Late season mangoes now in full swing and should be completed by months end.
Vegetables:
Same as last week. Asian veg’s, Herbs & Mixed Salad faring badly, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Beans & Green Peas also feeling the pinch.
Tomatoes have come back in price due to low demand and poor quality.
All issues are due to the wet weather and with current forecasts we could see the market staying on this course well into next month.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit:
Cavendish Bananas (QLD)
Fig Tray (NSW)
Oranges- juicing No2 (NSW)
Packham Pears (VIC)
Passionfruit (QLD)
Vegetables:
Asparagus- medium (Imported)
Carrots- med/lge (QLD)
Iceberg Lettuce (VIC)
Sweet Potato - large (QLD)
Truss tomatoes (NSW)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit:
Banana Leaves (QLD)
Blood Orange (Imp- USA)
Dragonfruit (QLD)
Fuji Apples (VIC)
Kiwifruit - gold (QLD)
Longan (QLD)
New Season Quince (QLD)
Vegetables:
New Season Chestnuts (VIC)
Heirloom Tomatoes (NSW)
Wild Pine Mushrooms (NSW)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply:
Borlotti Beans
Edible Flowers
Not Available:
Apricot - End of Season
Green Mangoes
Purple Asparagus
BUYER'S GUIDE: 6th Mar - 12th Mar
As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:
The wet weather has finally hit home. While demand is the same, quality is the big issue. In particular, poor quality and supply of local ground grown crops has pushed market prices higher. As in the past few weeks, it is 90% against the vegetables.
Fruit:
All good across the range. New Season Avocados are in full swing as is Kiwifruit and a good supply of tropicals from QLD.
Stonefruits are just about on their last legs, with most now well past their prime. New season apples and grapes in good supply.
Only berries and the melon range showing signs of the weather- quality, supply and price are the things to watch here.
Vegetables:
A much different story here. Some of the main lines are still ok (just up slightly in price) but the local NSW crops, Tomatoes, Asian Vegs, Herbs, Baby Veg etc have been hit hard in both quality and price.
There are only a few items on the short list (as we bring supply in from further afield) but we will see no real change until we get a clear run of dry weather. Still supplies are holding but pending the weather, quality will be the main issue.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit:
Delicious Apples - medium (NSW)
Red Grapes - seedless (VIC)
Mango - Kett's (QLD)
Passionfruit (QLD)
Plum (NSW)
Vegetables:
Broccoli (VIC)
Butternut Pumpkin (NSW)
Chinese Wombok (QLD)
Desiree Potato- large (SA)
Sweetcorn (NSW)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit:
Drinking coconut (Imported)
Fuji Fruit (QLD)
Kiwiberries (NZ)
Pomello (Imported)
New Season Quince (QLD)
Vegetables:
New Season Chestnuts (VIC)
Heirloom Tomatoes (NSW)
Tuscan Cabbage (NSW)
Wild Pine Mushrooms (NSW)
Winter Melon (QLD)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply:
Borlotti Beans
Not Available:
Baby Gold Beetroot
Baby White Carrot
Bella Rossa Tomatoes
Blood Orange
BUYER'S GUIDE: 28th Feb - 5th Mar 2012
As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:
Overall the general market price is down due to lower demand, but quality is still showing signs of the poor weather. Again it’s the ground grown crops, local Asian vegetables and herbs that are worst hit. Fruit is still holding and in most products there is no change in price.
Fruit:
Good supplies of New and Old season Apples. Apricots are just about all over.
Long watermelons not worth buying due to quality. Seedless same price and good gear.
Full range of Exotics from FNQ: Rambutans, Starfruit, Longans, Kett Mangos, Red Papaya, Persimmons plus more.
Vegetables:
Iceberg Lettuce, Coloured Lettuce, Gourmet Mesclums, Asian Leaf Veg and Herbs are feeling the wet and are up in price due to lower supply, quality is above par to good.
Still no shortages to pick from. The usual culprits; Broccoli, Caulies, Spuds, Carrots, Beans, Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkin are all good to go and priced well.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit:
Cavendish Bananas (QLD)
Peak Season Fig Trays (NSW)
Lychees (QLD)
Mango - Ketts (QLD)
Red Seedless Grapes (VIC)
Vegetables:
Beetroot- large (NSW)
Cauliflower (NSW)
Desiree Potatoes - large (SA)
Green Zucchini (NSW)
Sweetcorn (NSW)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit:
Banana Buds (QLD)
Banana Leaves (QLD)
Finger Limes (NSW)
Golden Delicious apples (VIC)
Longan (QLD)
Vegetables:
Green Olives - large, raw (NSW)
Kiwiberries (New Zealand)
Papaya - green/cooking (QLD)
Prickly Pear (NSW)
New Season Quince (QLD)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply:
Borlotti Beans
Marsh Grapefruit
Yellow Paw Paw
Not Available:
Baby Gold Beetroot
Blood Orange
BUYER'S GUIDE: 21st Feb 2012 - 27th Feb 2012
As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:
This week continues to see weather impacting local product, especially ground grown crops.
Fruit:
Cherries, are over and out. Peaches, Nectarines, Plums & Apricots are still available but we will see the end of the Apricots in the next week or two.
Apples are a thumbs up, with New Season red and green on the market. Last but not least, the tropicals; Rambos, Lychees, Carambolas, Custard Apples and Longans are in store and ready to go.
Vegetables:
The wet has taken its toll on local grown crops. All local Asian Vegetables are on the up in price... and if this wet keeps coming they may even be on the short list!
Caulie's are back in price but celery has pushed through the roof!
NSW & VIC crops have been feeling the pressure, so we could see an up in price for the next month on some of the Vegi lines. Everything else is stable for now, as it is mainly QLD supply.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit:
Apples - delicious med (NSW)
Nashi Pears (VIC)
Peaches (VIC)
Rockmelon (NSW)
Seedless Watermelon (NSW)
Vegetables:
Asparagus- medium (Imported)
Capsicum- red (QLD)
Chillies - long red (NSW)
Green Beans (QLD)
Truss tomatoes (NSW)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit:
Apples - royal gala (NSW)
Fuji Fruit (QLD)
Currants (NSW)
New Season Quince (QLD)
Rambutan(QLD)
Rhubarb (NSW)
Vegetables:
Samphire (NSW)
Treviso (NSW)
Wasabi Stems (TAS)
Winter Melon (QLD)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply:
Yellow Paw Paw
Not Available:
Baby Gold Beetroot
Blood Orange
Heirloom Tomatoes
Yellow Teardrop Tomatoes
BUYER'S GUIDE: 14th Feb 2012 - 20th Feb 2012
As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:
This week we will see the real effect of the weather on the local product.
Fruit:
Is less effected than ground grown crops. Holding up are lemons, some apples (Granny Smith being one) and Strawberries- with quality and a very short shelf life being the main problem here.
The rest of the crew is still safe, in good supply and well priced.
Vegetables:
Different story here with mainly the local supplied items, Herbs, Asian Leaf veg, Tomatoes, some Lettuce lines and Caulies being impacted.
The quality of the gear from across the borders is still fine for now (QLD & VIC) but extra demand has pushed prices up.
Still great buying are Beans, Corn, Caps, Zucchini, Chillies and Spuds.
If the sun comes out and stays we should see supply stabilized and prices sit in the buying zone.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit:
Fig Tray (NSW)
Grapes- red seedless (VIC)
Mango (QLD)
Pineapple - Bethonga (QLD)
Vegetables:
Asparagus- medium (Imported)
Carrots - med/lge (SA)
Green Beans (QLD)
Spanish Onion - red (TAS)
Sweetcorn (NSW)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit:
Currants (NSW)
Finger Limes (NSW)
Pears- Paradise Cocktail (NSW)
Prickly Pear (NSW)
New Season Quince (QLD)
Vegetables:
French Truffles - extra class (Imported)
Jalapeño Chillies (NSW)
Palm Hearts (Far Nth QLD)
Samphire (NSW)
Wasabi Stems
NOT THIS WEEK:
End of Season:
Cherries
Short Supply:
Heirloom tomatoes
Not Available:
Baby Gold Beetroot
Mangosteen
Purple Asparagus
BUYER'S GUIDE: 7th Feb 2012 - 13th Feb 2012
As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:
Considering the poor weather in key growing areas, we are still looking good in terms of supply and price.
Fruit:
Say goodbye to Cherries, as TAS has now ended its season. Next supply will be in June when USA fruit starts.
New Season Apples are in, grapes are in full swing and a solid range of tropical fruits are coming from up north. When it comes to melons- Rocks, Honey, Long and Seedless are all good buying and eating well.
Quality on Strawberries is ranging between 7/10 to 8/10, mainly due to the weather.
Vegetables:
Broccoli and Caulies are up in price while Yellow Squash, Gold Zucchini’s and large Heirlooms Tomatoes are on the short list.
The rest of the tribe are right to go, but we will see some kick up in price on selected lines over the next few weeks.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit:
Fig Tray (NSW)
Lychees (QLD)
Papaya - red (QLD)
Peaches (NSW)
Pineapples (QLD)
Vegetables:
Cos Lettuce - large (VIC)
Eggplant (NSW)
Sweet Potato - large (QLD)
Tomatoes - small (VIC)
Zucchini - green (NSW)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Coconut - drinking (Imported)
Dates - California (Imported)
Finger Limes (NSW)
French Truffles - extra class (Imported)
Palm Hearts (Far North QLD)
Papaya - green/cooking (QLD)
New Season Quince (QLD)
Salsify- black (SA)
Winter Melon (QLD)
Wasabi Stems (TAS)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply:
Heirloom tomatoes
Not Available:
Baby Gold Beetroot
Baby Leeks
Purple Asparagus
Yellow Zucchini
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
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
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