22 - 28 April update Sydney Market that includes availability and price of seasonal fruits, vegetables and flowers. Also includes recipe suggestions.
FRUITS:
Your local greengrocer still has a terrific selection of plump and juicy green, red and black grapes available, but the season will soon end. Make grapes your healthy go-to snack this school holidays or when the afternoon munchies strike. Grape prices range from $4 to $23, depending on your choice.
It's a bumper time for freshly harvested apples. Perfect for a healthy snack and offering loads of potential for autumn desserts, apples, depending on variety and size, are $4-$8 a kilo. This week, try Envy apples, a cross between Braeburn and Royal Gala varieties, resulting in a unique blend of sweet and tart flavours with a hint of floral notes and delightfully crunchy. Envy apples also naturally resist browning when sliced, making them an ideal choice for salads, fruit platters, and snacks.
Take a fresh look at voluptuous and flavourful pears. Select from Packham, Beurru Bosc, Corella, and the extra juicy and crisp Australian-grown Nashi. Pears team deliciously with cheese, add sweetness to a salad, make elegant desserts, and are an idea for a lunchbox snack. Depending on the variety, expect to pay $3-$8 a kilo.
The flavour of a ripe, super-soft persimmon has overtones of apricot and honey. While the soft flesh can be turned into ice cream, a mouse, or a fool, the most popular way to savour this autumn favourite is to simply cut it in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Persimmons are $5-$6 each.
It's time to embrace the fabulous quince. Simmer a split vanilla pod in a light sugar syrup and gently poach peeled and quartered quinces until they are softened and have turned a gorgeous shade of pink. Alternatively, try roasting quinces and expect to pay $5-$6 a kilo, depending on size. Select even-coloured quinces with a perfumed aroma. Handle with care, as although quinces feel very hard, they bruise easily.
Juicy, easy-to-peel Imperial mandarins are in season from April to October and are now available at your local greengrocer for $4-$7 a kilo, depending on size and quality.
Australian limes are plentiful and affordable right now. Unlike lemons, limes rarely have seeds. Their pulp is abundant, juicy, green and more acidic than a lemon. Buy in bulk and save. Individually, limes are selling for 60¢ each; look for savings with multi-buy packs.
Enjoy a few passionfruits this week for 80¢-$1.20 each, depending on size. One passionfruit yields approximately two tablespoons of pulp and juice. They are a delicious accompaniment to custard apples. This custard apple & super seed bircher muesli is tasty and easy to make.
Smooth and creamy with a nutty flavour, Shepard avocados are a top buy at $1-$5 each, depending on size. Again, look for multi-buy specials for extra savings. A good source of vitamin B6, this vitamin has many functions; it is essential during exercise when it changes amino acids into glucose to provide energy to the muscles.
VEGETABLES
Nutritious broccoli is a family favourite. It is delicious steamed, stir-fried, or pureed to create these delightful broccoli and cheese oven-baked fritters. Broccoli prices have eased in the last week; expect to pay $4-$6 a kilo.
Consider using fennel as a substitute for celery amidst rising celery prices. Fennel offers a crisp texture with a slightly sweeter, anise-like flavour. It can be used raw in salads for a refreshing crunch, sautéed or roasted as a flavourful addition to savoury dishes like this fennel, tomato, and Italian sausage spaghetti, or even thinly sliced and added to soups and stews for a unique twist. Fennel is $2.50-$3 a bulb.
Asian leafy green vegetables are inexpensive and fast to cook. Add a bunch of choy sum, bok choy, or pak choy to your stir-fries to add a delicious crunch and goodness. Asian greens cost $2.50-$3 a bunch.
Autumn is chestnut time. Cut a split in each chestnut, then roast for 20 minutes in a hot oven or air-fryer; remove from the oven, cool slightly, and peel will still warm. Toss roasted and peeled chestnuts with Brussels sprouts for a tasty side dish, with roasted vegetables or through a salad. Chestnuts are $6-$15 a kilo, depending on size and variety.
Rosemary is the herb of remembrance, and this ANZAC Day is the perfect time to enjoy this fragrant herb. It is delicious, teamed with lamb, garlic, parmesan cheese, potatoes, yoghurt, chicken, pork, and pumpkin. You can find bunches for $2.50-$3.
Orange flesh sweet potato, known as kumara, is delicious roasted, baked, deep fried or boiled and mashed. Depending on size and quality, you can pop a tuber in your basket for $2-$4 a kilo.
Discover the delightful versatility of chokos. Steam this humble vegetable and adorn it with butter, pepper, and finely chopped dill for a timeless delicacy. If you want to spice up your chokos, try them in this coconut curry veggie & oyster mushroom ramen. Cookies are $5-$6 per kilo; chokos offer both flavour and versatility.
Slice shiitake mushrooms and toss them into a hot pan with your favourite stir-fry ingredients, such as capsicum, onions, garlic, and soy sauce. The meaty texture of shiitakes adds depth and flavour to any stir-fry dish. You will find 100g packets of shiitake mushrooms in the refrigerator section for around $4.50-$5.
FLOWERS
Elevate your space or spread joy to a loved one with a stunning bunch of vibrant flowers. Currently in season, you will find Dahlia, Gloriosa, Lily, Celosia, Sweet William, Aster, Chrysanthemums, Gladioli, Tulips, Roses, Stock, Flamingo Feathers, Sweet Pea, Oriental Lilies, Delphinium, and Iris. Each bloom promises to bring beauty and warmth wherever it's displayed.
Prices quoted in this report are only relevant for the week of the report. All prices are estimates only as prices vary depending on variety, size and quality of produce and the trading area. For further information, please contact Sue Dodd, Marketing Consultant on 0438725453
Published On 2024-04-22 16:10:11
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