Sydney Markets Fresh Fruit Vegetable & Flower Report
28 January - 3 February 2019
FRUIT
In the heat of the day, nothing is more thirst quenching than a slice of juicy chilled melon. Watermelon, yellow fleshed champagne melon and the extra small mini lee melons are a delicious eating and despite their sweet taste, melons are very low in kilojoules. Expect to pay $2-$2.50 a kilo for cut melons, depending on variety.
Refreshing rockmelons from Hay and Griffith are naturally sweet and fragrant. Depending on size rockmelons are $3-$5 each this week.
Sweet and crunchy Menindee, Flame, Red Globe and Crimson seedless grapes are plentiful so expect to pay $3-$10 a kilo.
Sun-ripened golden and white fleshed peaches and nectarines are at their prime. Brimming with flavour, peaches and nectarines are $2-$12 a kilo. Try our recipe for nectarines with coconut and pistachio crumble.
Tangy and refreshing achacha (a-cha-cha) are a new tropical fruit with a tangy creamy, white flesh are available only for a short time and selling for $10-$12 a kilo. Similar to a mangosteen in taste and texture, achacha are originally from Bolivia.
Celebrate Chinese New Year with tropical tasting lychees at $10-$40 a kilo , depending on variety and size.
Plump red and ripe Roma tomatoes are $5-$6 a kilo, depending on size. There are also good buys on 18 kilo sauce tomatoes at $28-$30 a kilo.
Zesty limes plentiful and good value at 50¢-60¢ each. Used extensively in the tropics for juices such as limeade and cordials, food flavourings and pickles, both the juice and the rind of limes can be used in cooking in the same way as lemons. The aromatic rind is rich in natural oils and adds excellent flavour to a range of dishes.
Plums are plentiful with several varieties red and yellow fleshed varieties to choose from. Plums are retailing at $2-$10 a kilo, depending on variety and size.
Snap up the last of the season’s flavoursome and top-quality cherries. Prices are ranging from $15-$40 a kilo, depending on variety and size.
VEGETABLES
In abundance in summer, fragrant basil teams well with ripe tomatoes, fresh cheese like bocconcini or ricotta and pasta. Choose vibrant basil with firm leaves and a distinct fresh aroma. Basil is $2.50-$3 a bunch.
Zucchinis are a bargain at $3-$5 a kilo. Choose plump zucchini with glossy, unblemished skin. They’re best used within a few days. Create zucchini spaghetti, long pasta like zucchini spaghetti is low carb, gluten-free and contains fibre. Use a julienne peeler or spiralizer. 800g is sufficient for serve 4 people. Serve Zucchini ‘spaghetti’ with chilli, tuna & feta.
Crunchy textured with a delicate peppery bite, radishes are a thrifty buy at $2.50-$3 a bunch.
Lebanese cucumbers are a great buy at $3-$5 a kilo. Store cucumbers in a crisper section of your refrigerator, do not store with fruit, as they will deteriorate rapidly.
Snakes beans continue to be a great buy. Ideal for Asian dishes and stir-fries, snakes are complemented by flavours, such as garlic, ginger, tomatoes and fresh herbs. Expect to pay $2-$3 a bunch.
Versatile carrots are delicious used raw or cooked. At $1.50-$2.50 a kilo, they are top value. Whip up our super tasty, Moroccan inspired carrot, rocket and chickpea salad, this recipe is sure to become a favourite.
Glossy skinned eggplants are a good source of dietary fibre. They also provide vitamin B6 that plays a role in hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body. The purple skin is a rich source of antioxidants. To preserve its low-fat content, bake, grill or barbecue eggplant rather than frying it. Eggplants are $3-$6 a kilo. Try our Eggplant, tomato & coriander salad.
Fresh sweetcorn is succulent, naturally sweet and a truly delicious eating experience, provided it is cooked and eaten as soon after picking as possible. Hawkesbury sweetcorn is great value at 70¢-$1 a cob.
If you are looking for an ingredient that is rich in flavour and very easy to prepare then you can’t go pass mushrooms. They cook in minutes and add loads of flavour to stir-fries, salads, risottos and pizza toppings. At $10-$12 a kilo mushrooms are super value.
FLOWERS
There is a glorious selection of seasonal blooms available at your floral retailer. This week I recommend the fragrant tuberoses, pineapple lilies, flowering gum, lisianthus, heliconia, sunflowers, dahlias, David Austin roses, zinnia, hydrangea, lotus pods, crab claws, roses, celosia, sunflowers, Siam tulip, queen anne lace, dahlias, water lilies, amaranthus, lupins, gerbera and a super range of greenery. To obtain the maximum vase life, remember to trim the stems and refresh the water every 2 days.
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 02 9325 6200. Please credit source if republishing images or copy.
Published On 2019-01-29 13:15:00
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