VEGETABLES
The quality and value or most vegetables is generally very good right now
Asparagus – Australian season should commence in the next few weeks
Beans – Hand picked – excellent quality
Broccoli – Locally grown. Very good quality and value
Brussels Sprouts – In punnet – good quality
Cabbages – Locally grown – very good quality
Capsicums – Supplies have improved. Very good quality
Carrots – Premium quality, tender and sweet. It’s always best to store carrots in a plastic bag or tupperware, to prevent them from drying out and turning limp.
Caulitflower – Victorian season. Very good quality and value
Corn – Suppllies to the market have decreased and market price is up
Cucumbers – Locally grown Lebanese cucumbers. Excellent quality, however supply has tightened and market price is up. Telegraph cucumbers are good value
Leeks – In season
Lettuce – Quality of baby spinach, roquette, mixed leaf and Iceberg is very good.
Potatoes – Very good quality for all varieties
Snowpeas / Sugarsnap – Locally grown – excellent quality and value
Sweet potatoes – Very good quality and value
Tomatoes – Good supplies of locally grown Round, Romas and Cherry Toms. We have had some trouble with locally grown Cherry toms breaking down over a few days. We’ll re-assess on Monday and change to interstate this week if necessary
Zucchini – QLD season. Very good quality and quality
FRUIT
Apples – Pink Lady remain very good. We are also buying Kanzi, Gala and Granny Smith, which are all very good quality
Avocados – Hass are excellent quality and value
Bananas – Very good quality and value
Berries – Quality is very good for Blueberries, Blackberries and Raspberries
Grapes – The season for Australian grapes is over, with the new season due to commence around December.
Kiwifruit – New Zealand season coming towards an end and market price has gone up in the last week. Quality remains good for both green and gold varieties,
Lemons and Limes – Quality and value of Lemons is excellent. The supply of Limes has tightened and market price is up
Mandarins – The season for Imperials has finished. Afourers are very good quality – juicy, flavoursome with very few seeds
Oranges – Navels are very good quality and value – juicy and flavoursome
Passionfruit – Quality is very good, however a little scare and market price is up
Pears – Packam pears are very good quality.
Pineapples – Market supply is limited and Market prices remain high
Rockmelons – Have become scarce. Very good quality, however market price is up
Stonefruit – The first trickles of mangoes are coming into the market. Still early and we should commence buying early September.
Strawberries – Queensland season. Quality and value are very good. The best way to extend the life of berries is to remove them from their punnet and place on paper towel in the fridge. Only wash them just prior to eating.
Watermelon – New season has commenced. Quality is very good, however market price is higher than average.
When unpacking your produce, it should be handled as carefully as possible to minimise damage and bruising. Vegetables will store best in plastic bags or tupperware to prevent them from drying out in the fridge – especially for carrots and broccoli. Most fruits will generally stay fresher in the fridge. To maximise flavour, tomatoes should not be refrigerated