In fruit:
It is still a good time for fruit supply, unlike the vegetable category. The last good plum for the year, Flavour Fall’s from Western Australia, are at their best and on special in all our stores this week. Mandarins get better and better each week and are very well priced. In grapes, the bagged Thompson seedless, that have had a fantastic year, are now at the end of their time. For a cheaper grape, the blacks and the red seedless will both keep better and, in my view, eat better than the Thompsons. Avocadoes, apples, and pears are all good and inexpensive. We have some pale-looking but great eating Imperfect pink lady apples new season not old, that I think are a real bargain in the stores this week. Fuyu fruit, especially the Imperfects, are of excellent value as is papaya. Berries continue to be difficult; raspberries are the pick of these this week!
In veg:
Still fairly grim for vegetable supplies this week. Two of our Imperfect lines are the best value: black zucchini and kumara. Broccolini and premium kunmara are both quite reasonable and pre-pack carrots, although not cheap, are a good quality reasonable option.
