PRICKLY CHARACTERS:
Q: Why are some pineapples sold topless?
As far as fresh produce goes, I have always considered pineapples to be relatively straightforward (despite the ongoing debate as to whether they belong on a pizza- or burger for that matter). The pineapple industry in Australia is very QLD centric with top quality fruit being produced from Brisbane to Cooktown, though small amounts produced in Northern NSW and the NT deserve a mention. For many years, Australians buying pineapples lived by the general rule that smooth varieties are larger and juicier, whereas rough leaf fruit are smaller and sweeter. Over the last 15-20 years however this has changed, with cross-breeding of the existing smooth, rough and Hawaiian varieties producing a number of hybrid fruits that offer consumers the best of both worlds. With most pineapple varieties currently performing well at the markets, our bulletin this week is dedicated to the tropics favourite prickly character.
Before we break it down by variety, here are some insights which are true for all pineapples:
Selection: No matter which variety you buy it is important to note that pineapples may get juicier after harvesting but they don’t sweeter so choose plump fruit that has no bruising/blemishes and boasts a fresh, sweet (but not too sweet) pineapple fragrance.
Nutritional Benefits: pineapples are a fantastic source of Vitamin C with 100gm of some of the hybrid fruits delivering the entire recommended daily intake. They are also a great source of dietary fibre and a good source of Manganese
STANDARD PINEAPPLE: aka Smooth Cayenne
Availability: All year round, peaks in summer/warmer temperatures
Appearance: smooth with top
Flesh: pale yellow flesh
Flavour: juicy, slightly acidic, not as sweet as rough skin or the new hybrid varieties
Big deal: historically this has bee the canning pineapple – however still fantastic fresh.
BETHONGA: aka Bethonga Gold Hybrid/Topless Gold
Availability: all year, best Sept-May
Appearance: smooth, topless, slightly smaller than smooth cayenne
Flesh: richgold colour, less fibrous
Flavour: low acidity makes them more aromatic and sweeter in flavour than smooth cayenne
Big deal: less likely to cause the mouth blisters commonly associated with pineapples
BABY PINEAPPLE WITH STEMS:
Availability: Aug - Mar
Appearance: small pineapple with leaves, still attached to the stem
Flavour: N/A
Best use: display purposes
Big deal: These miniature fruits are beautiful and add a quirky twist to a display/centerpiece.
ROUGH SKIN/LEAF: aka Queen
Availability: all year, peaks Dec/Jan
Appearance: rough skin with top on, small fruit
Flesh: gold/yellow flesh that is drier and more fibrous than Smooth Cayenne
Flavour: delicate, mild pineapple flavour that makes it lovely fresh
Big deal: more of a niche product, it keeps well and has a lovely crisp texture
AUS JUBILEE:
Availability: all year, best Nov-Mar
Appearance: smooth yellow skin, small fruit, topless
Flesh: flesh is yellow, firm and crunchy
Flavour: very sweet, strong pineapple aroma with a hint of coconut
Big deal: this variety was born & bred in Australia, therefore it tends to delivers top quality fruit year round- it also has twice the Vit C of the Smooth Cayenne
KING OF FRUITS:
Availability: all year
Appearance: green/yellow smooth skin, topless
Flesh: much darker yellow/gold than smooth cayenne
Flavour: very sweet, low acid
Big deal: hybrid of rough skin and Hawaiian Gold, consistently good performer year round
A: This is a trend with the newer hybrid varieties on the market which are often trademarked by commercial partners. The tops of pineapples are removed and replanted, which considering each plant produces 1 pineapple every 2 years is a crucial part of ensuring the increased productivity and commercial availability of these new varieties. The cynics among us might also conclude that it is an effective strategy for trademark companies to protect their brand, as consumers and/or competitors are unable to use cuttings from purchased fruit to produce their own stock.
THE APPLE OF LOVE
Q: They’re tasty, but are tomatoes good for you?
A member of the nightshade family, tomatoes, or apples of love as they were once known, were introduced to the world following the Spanish conquest of Central America in the 1500s. While it is now a staple ingredient in cuisines the world over, the last 500 years has seen this lush fruit compete with the rosebud as a token of love, named as the subject of numerous court battles and decreed as poisonous. Despite its controversial history, 2008 saw 130 million tonnes of tomatoes produced worldwide, with China leading the charge at a staggering 33 million tonnes per annum.
Technically a fruit, the tomato is most commonly used as a vegetable. This is due to the glusamate content of the tomato which gives it a rich flavour that sits somewhere between sweet and savoury, making them perfect for eating both fresh and cooked.
The tomatoes we see today are nothing like the fruit first cultivated in the Americas. Over the years, tomatoes have been specifically bred for the purposes of increased disease resistance and aesthetic appeal. These programs have resulted in higher yields for farmers and the dominance of tomatoes that are uniform of shape and intense of colour i.e. the round, red fruit we see today. Unfortunately, many people believe that these programs have also resulted in loss of flavour and texture.
With this in mind, we have seen a widespread increase in demand for heirloom (heritage) varieties, organic, truss and vine-ripened fruits, as they offer the most authentic tomato experience.
Beyond these distinctions, there are many other tomato varieties that are worth including on the plate:
BEEFSTEAK OXHEART (Heirloom):
Availability: One of the favourite heirlooms, the oxheart is currently in short supply (as are all heirlooms) but is about to hit peak
Description: Large, very fragrant heirlooms. Tend to have a stripy skin with background
Flavour: Juicy with solid meat
Best Use: Slicing, sandwiches
BELLA ROSSA (loose):
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Appear similar to baby roma but are more square than egg shaped.
Flavour: Firm and sweet
Best Use: Salads, snacking, roasting whole
BLACK KUMATO:
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Dark brown/red when ripe
Flavour: Low in acid which makes them very sweet with a distinctive ‘kumato’ flavour
Best Use: Colour adds a unique twist to gourmet dishes. Dark brown are good for gourmet dishes, salads, sandwiches. Dark red is good for soups and sauces.
BLACK KUMATO- GRAPE:
Availability: Generally available
Description: Hydroponically grown these are a new variety. Dark chocolate.
Flavour: Low in acid which makes them very sweet with a distinctive ‘kumato’ flavour
Best Use: Snacking, salads, pasta sauces
BLACK RUSSIAN (Heirloom):
Availability: December - March
Description: Medium sized with dark olive skin and chocolate, red flesh
Flavour: Sweet
Best Use: Adding colour to a gourmet dish, salad
CHERRY (available loose or truss):
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Small variety, around 2cm in diameter. Mainly sold as yellow or red fruit, though it is possible to get heirloom cherry and grape medley packs
Flavour: Sweet and crunchy. The yellow fruit tends to have less acid and therefore be sweeter again
Best Use: Salads, roasting whole, snacking
GOURMET/FIELD/ROUND:
Availability: Generally available
Description: These are the standard round, red tomato we know and love
Flavour: Rich, full flavour
Best Use: All rounder
GRAPE:
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Small oval (approx 4cm) that comes to a point. Mainly sold as red or yellow fruit (yellow is slightly smaller), though it is possible to get heirloom cherry and grape medley packs
Flavour: The red and yellow varieties are very sweet due to their high sugar content
Best Use: Snacking
ROMA: (available loose or truss)
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Medium sized, elongated oval fruit that is rich red when ripe
Flavour: Sweet and juicy
Best Use: A plum tomato, low water and seed content make them perfect for cooking. Hold shape well under heat.
ROMA- BABY
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Small, generally about half the size of full Romas
Flavour: Intensely sweet, not as sweet as cherry tomatoes but still tasty
Best Use: Salads, sandwiches, antipasto, roasting, BBQ
TEARDROP/PEAR:
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Small fruit shaped like a pear/teardrop, this tomato can be red or yellow
Flavour: Mild and juicy, yellow teardrops have no acid and are very sweet
Best Use: Salads, snacking
MEDLEY:
Medley punnets showcase a variety of heirloom cherry and grape tomatoes, that bring a fantastic array of flavours, textures and colours to the plate.
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Best Use: Salads, snacking
A: Tomatoes are a nutritionist's dream. Generally a good source of vitamin C, E, A and fibre, they are set apart by their high lycopene content. One of the most powerful, natural antioxidants, lycopene has been proven to ward off various types of cancer by preventing the growth of cancerous cells. In fact, scientists believe that just one glass of tomato juice a day could have a huge impact on your future health. Interestingly, the lycopene in a tomato is not compromised by the cooking process, in fact the lycopene levels increase making it even more beneficial to the consumer.