VEGETABLES
The varied weather across much of Australia has affected the quality and value of some varieties.
Broccoli – supply has improved over the last week.
Beans – Prices are high and quality is fairly ordinary right now – I will hold off buying again this week.
Capsicums – Supply has improved over the last week.
Snowpeas, Sugarsnaps and Leeks are in season – very good quality and value.
Locally grown Snowpeas, Sugarsnap, Cucumbers and Zucchinis are in season – excellent quality and value.
FRUIT
The stonefruit season is in full swing now. Peaches and Nectarines are improving in flavour with every week.
Apples – I am currently buying Pink Lady and Granny Smiths only. Pinks Ladys are particularly good – crunchy and juicy. The season is gradually coming to an end however, so the market price for premium quality fruit is higher.
Avocados – Supply is good for Hass Avocados right now. However there is still no great value avocados available in the market unfortunately. Demand has been outstripping supply for a couple of years now because of their increase in popularity, so until growers (and new growers) can catch up with new plantations, price will continue to be firm.
Bananas – Very good quality and value.
Berries – Strawberries are coming from Victoria. There has been some heavy rain in growing areas so quality may be affected, but should improve mid to late week. Blueberries are very good quality and value.
Grapes – The Australian season has started for Menindee seedless grapes. Quality should be good this week – price unfortunately will remain high until the New Year.
Kiwifruit – The Australian and New Zealand seasons have finished. From now until about April next year, fruit will be imported from Italy. I don’t buy kiwifruit during this time.
Lemons – Very expensive at the moment – very scarce.
Limes – Availability has improved.
Mandarins – The season is over – the new season will start in about April next year.
Mangoes – The QLD Kensington Pride season is in full swing. Quality and value are excellent.
Oranges – Valencias are in season – very juicy and good flavour.
Pineapples – Topless pines are still good, although they are slowly coming to the end of their season.
Rockmelons – Scarce at the moment, as the season changes from QLD to Northern Territory.
Stonefruit – Apricots are in season and quality is very good.
The quality of cherries is excellent – there has been some rain around growing areas but it should hopefully not affect quality too much coming into Christmas.
White or Yellow peaches? This coming week I will be most likely buying yelllow nectarines and white peaches.