Dave's Market Update
In VEG
This week, we are seeing a very traditional spring vegetable flood the market, Lebanese cucumbers and to go with them baby cukes. Iceberg lettuce is easing in price in spite of the weather being perfect for salad consumption. Gourmet tomatoes, snacking tomatoes (particularly the Sampari variety are arriving daily and the merchants are struggling to clear them.
In Queensland there is a glut of Roma tomatoes as well, in Sydney markets, it’s the imperfect tomato line that’s oversupplied.
Fennel and cauliflowers are heavily supplied and both have eased in price. We have a mid-week special in Sydney on celery as well. Red caps are very cheap, if they are not absolute premium quality they are virtually unsaleable. We are indeed a lucky country.”
In FRUIT
“Not a lot happening in the fruit category this week. It was all about seedless watermelon last week and again there is some really good new season QLD fruit in our stores again this week. It’s marginally cheaper than last week, however there is in the marketplace some older fruit, much of it on the smaller side which consumers should avoid the whole melons; every second or third one does not cut well.
Blueberries was the other big line and in fact they are even better and possibly marginally cheaper than last week. We have even started some mulberries this week.
In grapes, there is a gap in the Australian fruit only for a short time. However, we do have a better USA grape available as they move into better varieties. Apples are shortening up, getting dearer and it looks that the season will finish earlier than we are accustomed to.”
- David Harris
Dave's Pick of the Week
“My pick this week is Lebanese cucumbers.
The most commonly produced vegetable in the world. Annual global production now exceeds 60 million tonnes. We normally promote these in the spring after winter which is always dear for this line.
In Australia, this veg hits its peak for taste and quality in the springtime. They are grown in glasshouses all over the country and become more and more popular each year. The old-fashioned green cucumber that my generation grew up with is very close to being a thing of the past. To get the combination of this quality at this price in is not usual. A lot of smaller growers no longer can compete with the major private equity backed massive farms on tomatoes and are now turning their attention to other lines such as these.
So this week - a fantastic vegetable that is great quality and a great price that is high in antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and K.”
- David Harris
HOW TO PICK
Choose those with bright-green skins and a firm, fresh appearance. Avoid those with soft spots or yellowing colour.
HOW TO STORE
Store in a bag in the vegetable crisper for up to five days..
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*Image used for illustration purposes
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