IN FRUIT
The Queensland strawberry season is gaining some momentum and prices will ease over the next few days. The quality is very good, now is a suitable time to put stawberries back on the shopping list. Blueberry supply is also improving, we should see better volumes and prices lowering in the next week or so.
There’s plenty of value in our imperfects this week, the highlights being Pink Ladys, Imperial mandarins and Packham pears. The fruit is great eating and a fraction of the price. It’s great to see papaya easing in price after being expensive for a while. Supply out of North Queensland has increased, bringing prices back to a realistic level.
For something different this week I’d suggest a custard apple. Custard apples are a wonderfully sweet fruit and at the moment are coming from Northern NSW. For the best outcome make sure the fruit is ripe – a ripe custard apple will generally have a little bit of give when pressed.
IN VEGIES
Some favourable weather conditions in Queensland and the Sydney basin sees the markets well supplied with many vegies. Zucchini, beans, broccolini, broccoli, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, spinach, beetroot, leeks, Brussels sprouts, Dutch carrots, mushrooms and celery are all well supplied. Sydney basin Lebanese cucumbers are in strong supply this week and quality is excellent.
Some ideal weather in Bowen North Queensland and the Sydney basin has seen the tomato market freefall over the last week or so. Moderate temperatures in Bowen are not unusual at this time of the year, but the above average temperatures in Sydney in recent weeks has keep the supply of tomatoes strong. The result is great quality tomatoes at a nearly half of last week’s price.
