IN FRUIT
The big news this week is the fantastic berries coming down our way from Queensland. They are fantastic to eat and so my pick of the berries this week is definitely strawberries. They are so good that as traditional buyers of other berries switch to them, then demand for these others falls and the merchants have to reduce their price also, so it’s a berry feast for all.
The tail end of the grape season means they are not quite as good as they have been, particularly if you attempt to store them. My advice is buy just what you want to eat in a couple of days. Apples, pears and all citrus are excellent, especially Navel oranges that are now sweet and ready to go. Custard apples that we pushed last week went very well and are still very good, definitely worth a try.
Last week I mentioned a late variety of Greenskin avocados from North Queensland that we are experimenting with. They are fantastic! Tasty and more reliable inside than the Hass variety. The fruit is only available in large sizes, as the trees we are sourcing this fruit from are very young and not producing a lot of fruit. The first of the imported stone fruit is in store this week, and same as the last two years, the eating quality is fantastic.
IN VEGIES
Lots more action for Harris Farm in the world of veg than there is in fruit. This dramatic change in the temperature up and down the Eastern seaboard means supplies will be hit with a double whammy. Firstly, all our veg will slow up in the paddock, putting upward pressure on prices. Secondly, people want to eat hearty vegetables right now, so more upward pressure. Watch this space.
However, this week is no problem. Tomatoes have come right back to the field, not a common occurrence in June. But there are serious bargains to be found in kumera, spinach, eggplant, mushrooms, rhubarb and Dutch carrots, similar to last week. As well now, capsicums and Brussels sprouts are easing back. You won’t have to search much this week for a value bargain veg.
