26 March - 1 April 2018

FRUIT

There is an enticing range of grapes now available at your local greengrocer. If you enjoy your grapes sweet and crunchy than we recommend the Crimson seedless and Thompson seedless grapes priced $4-$7 a kilo. For a treat this Easter whip up a Fig and Grape Cake.

Everyone loves bananas, smooth, creamy and an excellent source of vitamin B6 and C. Did you know that one banana provides almost 30% of your daily vitamin C requirements? Bananas are a popular choice at $2-$4 a kilo.

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 apples are $3-$8 a kilo. Try the new season Jazz apples their refreshing crunchy dense white flesh has a subtly sweet flavour. Jazz a retailing at $6-$8 a kilo. Know your apples

Harvesting of Queensland imperial mandarins is underway expect to pay $10 a kilo depending on size.

Pomegranates are increasingly being recognised as a rich source of antioxidants and adored for their dynamic ruby coloured nectar and arils. Good news is that the Australian pomegranate season has started. Pomegranates are $3-$5 each. Try this Tasty Pumpkin, Pomegranate & Chickpea Tabouli Salad.

Late season plums are delicious eating and make superb autumn plums desserts like compotes and crumbles. Prices will range from $3-$10, varieties still available are Autumn Giant, Angelino, September Candy and October Sun. Add tangy plums to a salad like this Plum, Watercress, Prosciutto & Goats Cheese Salad.

Persimmons are an old-fashioned favourite however the new non-astringent sweet persimmon varieties can only be eaten firm and crunchy or you wait until the flesh is soft and resembles apricot jam. Purchased firm fruit and allowed to ripen in the fruit bowl. Sweet persimmons around $1-$4 each. Learn more about persimmons

Curvaceous and versatile pears make elegant desserts and add sweetness to salads. Enjoy a juicy, fibre packed William, Packham, Buerru Bosc, for $3-$4 a kilo or a squat shaped Corella pear for $4-$8 a kilo.

VEGETABLES

Pumpkins are perhaps the most adaptable of vegetables. Use them in gnocchi, breads, sweet tarts and pies or if you crave comfort foods, roast wedges with garlic, whip a mash or puree for a rich cream soup. Jap, Butternut and Jarrahdale pumpkins are $2 a kilo when purchased whole.

Add crunch and a slightly sou flavour to salad with Mexican cucumbers also known as Cucamelons. Available in 100g punnets for $4-$5. They look like miniature watermelons and are the size of a grape.

If you are looking for a vegetable that offers flavour, value and convenience be sure to pick up a kilo of button, cup or flat mushrooms. Rich in B group vitamins and fibre, mushrooms are nutritious, delicious and thrifty at $8-$12 a kilo. Try our Leek, mushroom & baby spinach risotto .

Fennel’s lively aniseed flavour brings a fresh Mediterranean taste to meals. This splendid bulb vegetable adds crunch and flavour then thinly sliced and served in salad with wedges of Packham pear, toasted walnuts and pecorino cheese. Fennel is $2-$2.50 a bulb.

When preparing leeks, it is important to remove all dirt trapped between the leaves. Cut off the dark green tops and roots, halve the leek and wash thoroughly in plenty of cold water. Leeks are $2.50-$3 each and add a delicious mild onion flavour but are sweeter than onions.

Fresh herbs enliven a meal and their medicinal benefits should never be overlooked. Sage, rosemary and thyme go well with pork. Coriander, basil, parsley or oregano marries well with chicken and fish. For lamb choose mint, rosemary, thyme or use oregano, coriander, lemongrass and continental parsley for beef. Fresh herbs are $2.50-$3 a bunch, basil is $3-$4 a bunch.

Make the most of Autumn eggplants range in different shades of purple. Eggplants are so versatile, enjoy them crumbled or added to an Autumn salad. Expect to pay $3-$5 a kilo, depending on variety.

Take a fresh look at potatoes. This versatile vegetable is nourishing and hearty and there are so many varieties to choose from. Boiled, mashed or roasted potatoes are easy to prepare. South Australian Desire potatoes are a good all-purpose potato and are 5 Kilo bag for $5.

Freshly harvested Victorian chestnuts are plentiful. Gluten-free, chestnuts have a nutty flavour and creamy delicious flesh, try them roasted and served with Brussels sprouts or eaten hot and peeled. Cut a shallow cross in the shell and roast 20 min in a moderate oven, peel while they are warm. Chestnuts are retailing at $7-$13 a kilo.

FLOWERS

Long-lasting Easter daisies which come in purple, pink and white are great value. Dahlias are available in an array of colours and shapes, the bird of paradise are striking, Siam tulips, sedum and veronica are a popular choice, fragrant mini roses come in a kaleidoscope of colours and there is a fantastic

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, Retail Support Manager on tel 0438 725 453

Published On 2018-03-27 15:35:00