30 JANUARY - 5 FEBRUARY 2023
FRUIT
Sun-ripened pineapples are golden and sweet. Did you know that pineapples do not ripen after harvesting, and the best indication of sweetness is a fragrant aroma? Enjoy a Queensland pineapple this week for $3-$6 each, depending on variety and size. Add pineapple to kebabs or use in a pineapple & chilli salsa to serve with fish.
Refreshing and tangy limes are plentiful and sell for around 30¢-$1 each depending on their size. Drizzle zingy lime juice over fish dishes and papaya, or embellish spicy noodle dishes. Store limes in the refrigerator to hold quality.
Choose from yellow and white flesh peaches and nectarines for $4-$10 a kilo, depending on size. Wrap wedges of peaches or nectarines in prosciutto; secure with a toothpick, spray with olive oil and barbecue for a few minutes on each side.
Late summer yields a plentiful supply of tangy-sweet passionfruit. Look for bulk buy specials at your local greengrocer. Enjoy the delicious sharp–sweet flavour of passionfruit over stonefruit or mixed pulp through thick reduced-fat yoghurt and serve with muesli for breakfast. Passionfruit are 40¢-$1 depending on variety and size.
It has been a bumper mango season, and supplies of quality tropical-tasting mangoes continue to arrive at your local greengrocer. Late-season Pearl mangoes are available for a short time; this mango has attractive mottled golden orange, red and green skin with firm and sweet flesh. Pick up a few mangoes this week for $2-$5 each, depending on the variety.
Enjoy the divine flavour of petite-sized fresh currants - they look like tiny purple grapes; the clusters are plump, fruity, and sweet. Available for only a few weeks, expect to pay $15-$20 a kilo.
On the berry front, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are plentiful. Enjoy healthy berries straight from the punnet, or whip up a delicious berry dessert. Berries are $2.50-$5 a punnet.
Juicy and sweet Valencia oranges are thrifty buying at $2-$5 per kilo. A green tinge on the skin is not an indication fruit is under-ripe. Greening occurs to oranges on the tree in hot summer weather as part of the natural ripening process.
A superb selection of plums is available, including red and golden fleshed varieties. Enjoy plums as a healthy snack or whip up a tasty dessert. Plums are $3-$15 a kilo, depending on the variety.
Your local greengrocer has a fabulous selection of flavoursome tomatoes. From bite-size cherry and grape tomatoes to plump truss tomatoes, prices range from $3 a punnet to $6 a kilo. LUNCH BOX TIP: when adding tomato to sandwich fillings for school lunch boxes, place sliced tomato between slices of cheese, ham and leafy salad greens to prevent the bread from becoming soggy.
VEGETABLES
Cooked eggplant has a mild flavour and delightful melt-in-the-mouth texture; team eggplant with garlic, basil, tomato, lemon, tahini, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, chilli, onion and miso. Eggplant prices have dropped to $3-$4 a kilo for field grown and $4-$6 for glasshouse-grown products.
Snap up zucchinis at $3-$5 a kilo. With its tender flesh and mild flavour, zucchini is a versatile veggie: slice, dice, chop, grate, and spiralised. Zucchinis can also be added to a stir fry, baked in a cake, in a frittata, served as a pasta replacement, or added to a frittata.
Snake beans continue to be a great buy. Ideal for Asian dishes and stir-fries, snakes are complemented by flavours like garlic, ginger, tomatoes and fresh herbs. Expect to pay $2.50-$4 a bunch. This chilli, snake bean & pork stir-fry with eggs is a tasty mid-week meal.
Asian leafy greens like bok choy, choy sum, gai lum and On choy/Kang Kong (water spinach) are good value at $2-$2.50 a bunch. Make a stir-fry healthier and boost the texture and colour.
Machine-harvested green beans are a thrifty buy this week at $3-$5 a kilo, and handpicked beans are $7-$10 a kilo. Cold, cooked beans are delicious dressed in a salad dressing, added to a Niçoise salad or team beans with fresh herbs, bacon, prosciutto, onion, garlic, potatoes, tomato, lemon, feta cheese, pine nuts or olive oil.
Radishes are underrated; their crisp texture and mild mustard flavour add a delicious pop of flavour and texture to summer salads. Pick up a bunch for $2-$3, depending on the variety. Tip: place trimmed and washed radishes in icy cold water for an hour to make them extra crisp.
Golden cobs of freshly harvested sweetcorn are naturally sweet. Cobs are available loose and in trays; sweetcorn is 40¢-$1 each. Sold loose and in packs. Look for multi-buys for extra savings.
Boost the flavour of your summer cooking with fresh herbs for $2-$4 a bunch. Coriander and mint are delicious used in combination or singly in salads and rice paper rolls. This coriander, mint & lime chicken noodle salad is fresh and tasty.
FLOWERS
Summer offers a splendid array of flowers to enjoy at home or in the office. Visit your local florist and pick up flowering gum, hydrangea, tuberose, crab claws, roses, sunflowers, pineapple lily, Queen Anne Lace, dahlias, snapdragons, bouvardia, oriental lilies, water lilies, amaranthus, lupins, lotus pods, gerbera and a super range of greenery. Remember to trim the stems and refresh the water every two days to obtain the maximum vase life.
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 2023-01-30 14:25:56
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