VEGETABLES
Asparagus – Very scarce – currently unavailable
Beans – Hand picked in punnet – excellent quality
Broccoli – Scarce due to unfavourable weather in Victoria
Brussels Sprouts – In punnet – excellent quality
Cabbages – Locally grown – very good quality
Capsicums – After a couple of months of high prices, supply has finally started to improve
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. Good quality and value
Corn – Local season – very good quality
Cucumbers – Locally grown. Excellent quality
Lettuce – Supply and quality of baby spinach, roquette, mixed leaf and Iceberg are very good.
Leeks – In season – excellent quality and value
Onions – Quality and value are very good
Potatoes – Very good quality for all varieties
Snowpeas / Sugarsnap – In punnets – excellent quality
Sweet potatoes – Supply has improved. Very good quality
Tomatoes – Very good quality and value for round tomatoes, truss and cherry
Zucchini – Locally grown – very good quality and value
FRUIT
Apples – Al varieties are at the end of their season and prices are up
Avocados – Hass are in season. Excellent quality
Bananas – Warmer weather up north has led to increased supplies. Very good quality and value
Berries – Blueberries are very good quality and value. Raspberries and Blackberries are also very good
Cherries – Tasmanian. Excellent quality, however prices are high
Grapes – Green seedless grapes are very good quality and value
Kiwifruit – New Zealand season is over for both green and gold. Currently unavailable
Lemons and Limes – Lemons are out of season and prices are up
Mandarins – New season will commence around April
Mangoes – QLD season has started. Quality and value are good. Hopefully supply will increase and prices will come down over the coming weeks
Oranges – Valencias are in season. Excellent quality
Passionfruit – Will be very scarce for the next few weeks. Temporarily unavailable
Pears – Packams are at the end of their season
Pineapples – Good quality, but very scarce. Prices are high
Rockmelons – Very good qualiy
Stonefruit – This week we will be buying (depending on a availability) : Yellow Golden Queen Peaches (yellow skin and flesh – excellent flavour and texture); Yellow flesh Nectarines, and Plums (both very good eating)
Strawberries – The Victorian season. Quality and value are currently very good (depending on weather) 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 – Very good quality and value
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