13 - 19 November 2017

FRUIT

Fragrant and juicy peach and nectarine are irresistible? Yellow and white flesh varieties from the North Coast of NSW, Peats Ridge (Hawkesbury area), South Australia and Victoria are now available. Prices are ranging from $4-$13 a kilo, depending on size and variety. For a quick idea try this Baked Peaches With Almonds.

Bananas are an all-time favourite. Expect to pay $1.50-$3 a kilo this week. When banana's start to develop a brown freckled appearance on the dulling yellow skin, this indicates that they are at prime ripeness and all the starch content has changed to sugar, so they are at their sweetest.

Luscious tropical flavoured mangoes are a seasonal treat. Select from Kensington Pride, Calypso and R2E2. Allow firm mangoes to ripen at room temperature until flesh yields to gentle pressure around the stem. Mangoes are coming from Katherine and the Burdekin, fruit is excellent quality and selling for $2-$4 each. Your local greengrocer is sure to have a special on trays ranging from $10-$25 depending on variety and size.

Velvety skinned apricots are in season and retailing at $6-$15 kilo, depending on size and variety. Select plump apricots with a fragrant aroma and no sign of greening around the stem.

Melons flourish in the warmer weather. Mini Lee melons are $3 each. Rockmelon $3-$5 each, Honeydew and Piel de Sapo melons are $4-$5 each and seedless watermelon -$1.20-$2.50 a kilo. Simply serve and serve as a healthy snack.

Checkout berries this week. Strawberries are $1.50-$4 a punnet, blueberries $2-$4 a punnet, blackberries $4-$5 a punnet and raspberries $6-$8 a punnet.

One of the delights of late spring and summer is Australian grown cherries. Loved for their succulent texture, sweet flavour and glamorous glossy looks, juicy cherries can be firm or soft fleshed and vary in sweetness, depending on which variety. Early cherry varieties tend to be the softer eating delicately flavoured. This week cherries are $6-$20 a kilo.

VEGETABLES

Antioxidant rich kale is a tasty and thrifty buy at $1-$2 a bunch. Sauté chopped kale in olive oil and chopped garlic and serve as a side dish or add to your favourite juice to kick start your day with 100% of your daily requirements of vitamins A, C & K. This Kale With Garlic, Currants & Pine Nuts is a tasty side dish.

Tender, juicy and full of flavour Lebanese cucumbers are a choice buy at $2-$3 a kilo. Combine diced cucumber with ripe tomatoes, olives, thinly sliced onion and feta cheese to make a traditional Greek salad.

Add button mushrooms to your shopping list at $8-$12 a kilo. Slice and add to a pasta dish or stir-fry. Alternatively tread on to a bamboo skewer, marinate and barbecue. These Mushrooms With Bacon & Pine Nut Crumbs are delicious and easy to make.

Asian leafy greens – such as bok choy, choy sum and gai lum are quick to cook, versatile and super nutritious. Add them to your stir-fries for only $1-$2 a bunch.

Ruby red coloured beetroot is sweet, nutty favoured and great value at $2.50-$3.50 a bunch. Use beetroot raw in a salad, finely julienned, it is delicious juiced and teamed with orange and ginger or roast until tender and toss with feta cheese. Or create a Beetroot Detox Breakfast Juice.

Zucchini are a choice buy at $5-$6 a kilo. Try slicing them in half lengthwise, score, then brush with a little olive oil and place on the barbecue or grill plate, cook turning once until tender.

Fresh green beans are a seasonally top buy this week. Machine harvested beans from Gatton are $3-$4 a kilo.

For value, taste and versatility fresh asparagus is a winner, its delicate nutty flavour can be enjoyed raw or cooked, hot or cold and Aussie spears team deliciously with veal, pasta, seafood, prosciutto, chicken and steak. This premium quality vegetable is top of my list at $1.50-$2.50 a bunch. Purple asparagus is also available for $3-$4 a bunch.

Crisp and vibrant, green sugar snap peas are a choice buy at $10-$12 a kilo. Cooked quickly they maintain their stunning colour and certainly liven up a stir-fry, salad or curry.

FLOWERS

To maximise the vase life of fresh flowers, remember to trim the stem, place in tepid water with a floral preservative and position your vase away for your fruit bowl. Spring blooms that offer top value are hydrangea, peonies, sunflowers, gerberas, veronica, calla lilies, lisianthus, lilac, lily of the valley, roses, daisies, and for something a little different checkout the flowering artichokes bouvardia, buddleia or agapanthus.

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 tel 0438 725 453.

Published On 2017-11-13 15:35:00