4 - 10 December 2023 update Sydney Market that includes availability and price of seasonal fruits, vegetables and flowers. Also includes recipe suggestions.
FRUITS:
Cherry season is off to a fabulous start, with top-notch fruit quality. Early-season varieties tend to have softer flesh but are also packed with flavour. Anticipate spending between $7 and $40 per kilo for these delectable cherries. This cherry relish is perfect for serving with ham.
Harvesting of new season Aussie-grown grapes has started. Look for the green-skinned Menindee seedless variety for sweet eating and value, the pink-skinned Flame Seedless variety and the backed-skinned Midnight Beauty. Wash grapes and store them in the fridge to ensure they are crisp and firm eating. Grapes are $10-$20 a kilo.
Indulge in the delicately sweet papaya, recognized as one of the most nutritious fruits. Priced at $2 to $5 each, papaya is rich in vitamin C and beta carotene, converting to vitamin A in the body. Allow whole papayas to ripen at room temperature until they lose their greenish hue and yield to gentle pressure around the stem.
Peaches and nectarines, both white and yellow-fleshed, are abundant and flavourful. Choose from slip-stone varieties, ideal for summertime desserts like poached spiced summer fruits. Prices range from $3 to $12 per kilo. Donut peaches are also in season; try them this week for $5-$15 a kilo.
Golden velvety skinned apricots are $5-$20 a kilo. Choose firm, evenly coloured apricots with a sweet fragrance; this indicates optimum flavour. Colour varies from pale to deep apricot; the deeper the colour, the higher the content of beta carotene. Refrigerate ripe fruit and use within two days.
December marks the prime time for luscious berries, including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and red currants all in season. Prices range from $3 to $6 per punnet, making it the perfect time to whip up delightful berry desserts like poached berries with easy pancakes. TIP: Use strawberries quickly, as last week's rain may have decreased their shelf life.
Try something new: white strawberries stand out with their creamy skin and flesh tone. They are spotted with red seeds and topped with a green calyx and stem. Their flavour is sweet with a hint of peach. Cultivating white strawberries is a bit more of a challenging process, demanding additional time and effort. As a result, they are often associated with a higher cost.
VEGETABLES
A kilo bag of versatile carrots is a bargain at $1.50-$3. Add grated carrots to coleslaw, juice carrots (they are delicious, teamed with orange and ginger), and roast carrot batons with a sprinkling of fresh thyme and a drizzle of olive oil.
Summer invites the enjoyment of eggplants in various cooking styles—roasted, grilled, barbecued, or baked. Priced at $3 to $6 per kilo, adding barbecued eggplant to homemade burgers imparts a pleasant texture and extra smoky flavour.
Red radishes, priced at $2.50 to $3 a bunch, are versatile for various culinary endeavours. Serve them halved with salted butter, include radishes thinly sliced in salads, or add coarsely grated radishes to coleslaw.
Bursting with flavour with a delicious nutty crunch, Australian-grown asparagus is now in season. Asparagus is best cooked rapidly to retain its colour and crunch. About 1-3 minutes (depending on thickness) is all that’s required. Asparagus will be $1.50-$3 a bunch.
Fast to cook, nutritious and versatile, Asian leafy greens are a busy cook’s best friend. Slice and add to stir-fries and noodle dishes, or steam and serve as a side dish. Asian leafy greens are $1.50-$3 a bunch.
This week, versatile broccoli is a healthy and thrifty choice at $3-$5 a kilo, and broccolini is $3-$4 a bunch.
Dutch carrots sold in a variety of colours are flavoursome and a healthy choice at $2.50-$4 a bunch. Try this tasty Moroccan-style roasted veggies salad.
Zucchinis, priced at $2 to $6 per kilo, are best chosen plump with glossy, unblemished skin. Grate them into burger patties or create vegetable quinoa burgers for a nutritious twist.
Sumptuous salads come alive with soft-leafed fancy lettuces like Red Oak leaf, Mignonette, Butter, or Red Coral, priced at $1.50 to $2 each. Larger options, such as Cos lettuce or Iceberg, are around $2 to $3 each. Complement your salads with a homemade lemon & coriander tahini dressing for an extra burst of flavour.
Sweetcorn is a family favourite that is fast to cook. Wash corn cobs, arrange them in a single layer in a microwave-safe bowl and cover them with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 2-3 minutes (per cob) until just tender. Stand to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Sweetcorn is 80¢-$1 per cob when purchased in a pre-pack.
FLOWERS
Hydrangeas are divine and available now in pastel tones and richly coloured
shades of blue and mauve. Learn more about hydrangeas. Also in season this
week is smoke bush, Christmas bush, dahlias, dancing lady orchids, holly,
oriental lilies, achilleas, allium (garlic flowers), agapanthus (white and
purple), David Austin roses, delphinium, buddleia, sea holly sunflowers,
artichoke flowers, crab claws, king proteas, Canterbury bells, chincherinchee,
Leucadendron and lisianthus. Pop into your local florist and pick up a bunch.
Please note that the prices quoted in this report only apply for the current week and are subject to variation based on product variety, size, quality, and the trading area. For more information, please feel free to contact Sue Dodd, Marketing Consultant, at 0438725453
Published On 2023-12-05 14:21:33
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