IN FRUIT
At last mangoes are affordable again. Not only that but they are the very best ones to eat as well. The next few weeks will see cheaper prices again as growing areas all come on together, not in the orderly progress that we are used too. Surprisingly blueberries too are continuing their run with the premium brands particularly being traded even more cheaply than last week. Bananas are still cheap with our imperfect fruit being a real bargain. Seedless watermelon is very good quality and very good value too. With the Melbourne Cup next week we will see strawberries and raspberries continue to be dear, however once all the lunches are over by next weekend prices will retreat. The imperfect section of our stores continues to deliver bargains to our customers. Oranges and lemons, Packham pears and certain vegetable lines which vary day to day and week to week represent such good value that every so often I am a bit surprised we still readily sell some of the premium lines.
IN VEGETABLE
I don’t think I have seen a market collapse so quickly as what has happened with green capsicums this week. HFM stores will be selling these for as low as a quarter the price of just one week ago… who would be a farmer! Most vegetables are however fairly close in price to last week with a few lines somewhat dearer. Broccoli, English spinach, eggplant and mushrooms remain very good value. All cucumbers are still cheap and with tomatoes, some of the snacking lines are now so cheap, that as gourmet tomatoes rise in price the snacking tomatoes are at or near the gourmet price.
