With the exception of Dates from USA, and Garlic from Spain, all produce we deliver is Australian grown, and locally sourced wherever possible. Lemons are also from USA just now, as good quality Australian fruit is currently unavailable.
When unpacking your produce, it should always be handled with utmost care to prevent damage and bruising. Vegetables will store best in plastic bags or tupperware to prevent them from drying out in the fridge – this is especially true for carrots and broccoli. Most fruits will generally stay fresher in the fridge. However, to maximise flavour, tomatoes should not be refrigerated.
VEGETABLES
Asparagus – Australian season has finished. Very scarce, scarce and imported from South America. We are not currently buying.
Beans – Hand picked – quality is very good,
Broccoli – Quality and value very good.
Capsicums – Reds from QLD – very good quality and value. Locally grown greens are very good.
Cauliflower – Very good quality and value right now
Corn – Good supplies from QLD.
Cucumbers – Locally grown – excellent quality and value.
Ginger – Expensive right now
Lettuce – Very good quality and value.
Potatoes – Quality and value is very good.
Pumpkins – Good quality and value.
Snowpeas – Locally grown. Quality and value are good.
Tomatoes – From QLD right now – quality and value are very good. Truss are particularly good value right now.
Zucchini – Local season is coming to an end. Good supplies from QLD
FRUIT
Apples – New season Galas are available and the best choice – value and quality are excellent. Pink Lady and Granny Smith are last season’s fruit – new season will begin around March / April.
Avocados -Shepards are just starting and quality is very good. Shepards sometimes get a bad rap – which is underserved. They are creamy and flavoursome. They are not as hardy as a Hass, so if bought from a store it is common for them to be bruised. If they are handled carefully this shouldn’t be an issue. Also, maybe people cut them before they are ripe. They are ready to eat when they yield to gentle pressure. Unlike Hass, their skin will stay green even when ripe.
Bananas – Quality and value are very good.
Berries – This time of year is not the best for berries. Victorian strawberries are quite good, but they need to be eaten within a day or two. Coffs Harbour blueberries are coming to the end of their season, with the growing area switching to Tasmania – quality is very good. Raspberries are inconsistent – we are not buying currently. 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.
Grapes – Thompson Seedless and Crimson Seedless commence this week – quality and value will be very good. Best time of year for grape lovers – sweet, crunchy, fresh off the vine.
Kiwifruit – New Zealand season has come to an end. Currently imported from Italy – we aren’t buying right now. The new season is another month or so away.
Lemons – Currently buying USA fruit, Australian being out of season and unavailable.
Limes – Good value and quality.
Oranges – Valencias are in season – they are not as sweet as a Navel, however very juicy. Perfect for juicing.
Pineapples – Good quality and value. Topless are quite scarce as their season has ended. We are buying pines with the tops on – quality has been very good – not as sweet as the topless varieties but still juicy and flavoursome.
Rockmelons – QLD rockmelons are now in good supply.
Stonefruit – Mangoes – Kensington Pride and Calypsos are finished for another year. There are some later varieties such as Reeds which we will test this week, and maybe make available. Nectarines and Peaches are coming to the end of the season – but quality is still good. We switched to a very good brand of yellow peaches last week which should hopefully be available again this week. Plums are very good eating – in peak season.
Pears – We are buying new season Williams – fresh off the trees – nice eating.
Watermelon – Quality and value are very good right now