MARKET UPDATE We are going to do the right thing by our Australian farmers this week by having a huge push on Australian Valencia oranges this week. Valencias are the oranges that grow in Summer but in recent years consumers have shown a preference for imported Navel oranges. No doubt these imported oranges are very sweet, but I love the fresh crisp taste of a local Valencia � particularly for the morning glass of orange juice. We think the best eating pear is still the Packham and we are also helping our farmers to finish these off this week. We need to make room for the new season pears that are starting to arrive but are still not eating quite right. We will we have a fantastic bargain in Calypso mangoes this week. The mango season is nearly over but these trays are incredible value. It is also a great week for lychees and peaches continue to be excellent. Plums are great value this week � I really love those sweet sugar plums that are all the go this week. The best of these come from the Young district, lots of this product ends up being exported to the East where all the sweet fruit is highly sought after. Of course the new season Gala apples continue to get better and better. All the grapes are good this week but my pick is the Raleigh seedless (red grapes). Still tons of tomatoes about and all hard product potatoes, pumpkin and onions are very well priced. Best value of the week is cobs of corn. At this time of the year I love to BBQ them with a drizzle of lime juice � simple and delicious. There is lots of imported asparagus and carrots to help the budget this week. Our problem areas are beans and English spinach as the quality of both have been adversely affected by the weather.

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posted by: Dave Harris at 5:42 PM  0 comment(s)

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We are seeing another week of very depressed fruit and vegetable prices � particularly if we compare prices to one year ago with many items selling for half of the price they were a then. That is what happens when everyone gets as much water as they need. The result of this water, and the fact that relatively speaking we have had a very mild summer, has led to excess production coupled with a very strong Australian dollar means little product is going offshore. The consumer is absolutely the winner in this scenario. Our figures are telling us that most families are spending fifteen to twenty per cent less on their fruit and vegetable bill this December January than either one, two or three years ago and are taking home more product for their money.

It is back to school week this week so we have concentrated on product suitable for a healthy lunch box. Hence we have opted to promote new season gala apples. These are one quarter the price of one year ago and bananas at two thirds last year�s price! Compared to two years ago both lines are around sixty percent in price.  Other bargains include all melons, pineapples, limes, avocados and mangoes. With avocados our family (except for the chairperson currently on a fact finding mission in New York) are loving the Reed avocados. They stay green in colour, are mostly on the large side but just absolutely fantastic to eat. The topless pineapples are very good and sweet also. Usually in summer they are a bit ordinary, but this milder weather must suit them. Again this week our main mango is the funny coloured but good eating Palmer mango. Those sweet little sultana grapes are my pick of the grapes this week � much softer in the skin than the Menindee seedless, again really good for school lunches. In berries we are coming into that two or so weeks each year that the blackberries are at their best and are my pick of the berries. Finally in peaches the Golden Queens are at their best. If you prefer a traditional yellow peach, the next two weeks will be the peak time for O�Henry peaches from Forbes.

Tomatoes remain very cheap as are carrots and pumpkin. Zucchini and telegraph cucumbers are both cheap and good. Rain up north has meant few kumara arrivals this week and so dearer prices here and a few local veg lines such as English spinach and radish are not so easy. The bargains this week are in fruit.

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posted by: David Harris at 4:21 PM  0 comment(s)

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Summer continues to be not quite right and prices for most fruit stay somewhat depressed as a result. This week our main thrust is seedless watermelon which is starting to come from central west NSW instead of northern Queensland which of course means it is fresher and cheaper to get to store here in NSW therefore better value for our customers. Buy a whole melon at this week�s price and you will save money and have a product which has a longer life. White seedless grapes are our other fantastic special this week at a price not seen for some years. Peaches and nectarines continue to be fantastic eating and as is usually the case, the smaller fruit is proving the best value for money. In our salad lines, cherry tomatoes and telegraph cucumbers are the best value this week � all that is missing is some good weather to enjoy with the salad! These cherry tomatoes are grown right here in the Sydney Basin.

Other good news is with Aussie limes. They are really affordable this week and indications are that this will continue for the next couple of weeks. The mangoes that were looking difficult last week have improved with some other varieties, are good eating and getting underway. Try a Palmer (almost black in colour) or a Brooks mango (green with a tinge of white) over the next couple of weeks � you won�t be disappointed. Both these don�t change colour when ripe; they need to give to pressure. The other good news is that our new season apples start this week. At this stage, it is only the Galas but other varieties will come in the next few weeks as will the Williams pears. Cherries continue to be wonderful to eat and berries are starting to come good also. The next week will see the start of the best blueberries of the year as the Tasmanian fruit gets underway. Bananas are a little dearer again this week but still only a fraction of the post cyclone prices. All potatoes have eased in price and lots of NSW pumpkins, all varieties to choose from.

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posted by: David Harris at 2:28 PM  0 comment(s)

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Our focus at this time of the year goes more to fruit with all the wonderful summer fruits underway. Grapes are really coming into their own with a number of varieties arriving in large numbers and prices are easing back rapidly. Peaches and nectarines are in abundance with both the yellow and white varieties both excellent to eat and there are lots of bargains here - it is hard to pick which is the best to eat. This week the Tasmanian cherries really get into full swing � and these are to me the pick of the fruits for January. There are a flush of Fijian papaya on at the moment and these will be far better value than paw paw for the next week. I am seeing a build up in the quantities of Aussie limes this week and I would expect these to be cheaper than the imported lemons by the middle of next week. There are a few weather issues in the berry category this week. It is just too hot in Victoria where most of the strawberries come from. Raspberries are between crops so the best value in the berry category this week is blueberries. Kensington Pride mangoes are coming to an end up north and I suggest you try a Honeygold mango in store this week.

In vegies those lovely truss tomatoes are extraordinarily good value this week and this has dragged down the price of gourmet and cherry tomatoes also. Lots of inexpensive Lebanese cucumbers are joined by very well priced good old iceberg lettuce all adding up to salads being flavour of the week. There are lots of options everywhere this week.

 

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posted by: David Harris at 10:12 AM  0 comment(s)

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Extraordinary weather and more than adequate rainfall is leading to a most unusual retail Christmas in fruit and veg. A lot of the products that traditionally are very difficult to source in Christmas week are actually in plentiful supply. Our only problem at this stage are; strawberries and figs. With strawberries our South Australian crops have been rained out and similarly figs are getting a lot of rain and the first crop actually came and finished earlier than normal. However, mangoes, white grapes, avocadoes, good stone fruit of all varieties and washed potatoes are all enjoying massive quantities arriving in the markets, enough to satisfy demand. Even vegies are in very good supply. Tomatoes, though a little dearer, are still cheap by traditional Christmas week standards, with good alternatives in cherry truss and cherry tomatoes available. Seedless watermelon is one third last year�s price and there is good buying options in the small to medium size rockmelons.

I will also take this opportunity to wish you, your family and friends our warmest wishes for the festive season and every happiness in the New Year!!

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posted by: David Harris at 2:40 PM  0 comment(s)

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