Dave's Market Update
In Veg
“A very good week again for all salad vegetables. All cucumbers remain a bargain, particularly cukes and telegraph cucumbers.
Truss tomatoes are cheap as are field grown, particularly the imperfect category. Maybe not quite as many snacking tomatoes as last week but great quality and inexpensive options are available.
Asparagus is still very good and not dear. At last, we have some reasonably priced potatoes in store with a very good line of washed from South Australia.”
- David Harris
In Fruit
“It’s a fantastic week for berries this week, very unusual for the week of the Melbourne Cup. Strawberries particularly are cheap with blackberries not far behind them. Also, there are fantastic blueberries and raspberries which are both very well priced.
The KP mangoes from Katherine are now at their absolute best and there are some fantastic eating Honey Gold mangoes available as well. Papaya and rockmelons are both inexpensive and both eating very well. Seedless watermelon is excellent quality and white grapes, some Aussie and some imported are both good eating.
Our conversion from Navels to Valencias is well underway and it is only the premium stack fruit that is still the navel variety. Apples are coming to an end early this year, which I think is a good thing.
Stone fruit is quite acceptable; however it will get better over the coming weeks. Cherries from South Australia are surprisingly good eating and will be on special in all stores this weekend, quite dear but very good fruit at this stage weather permitting, we are looking to a fantastic cherry season.”
- David Harris
Dave's Pick of the Week - Strawberries
“My pick this week is strawberries. The Melbourne Cup week is usually really difficult for these as the demand for these and other berries way outstrips supply.
This year, however, the opposite is true. We still have a reasonable flow from southern Queensland, and the West Australian season is also running late. As well, some newer varieties from Victoria have meant their season is earlier than we would normally expect. The result is good quality strawberries as well as good supplies of the other berries pushing the prices of all berries down. Our customers will love this!”
– David Harris
HOW TO PICK
The perfect strawberry should be fully coloured, firm, bright, plump and shiny. Size plays no part in determining the perfect strawberry. In fact, small strawberries are equally as sweet and juicy as large ones. Make sure the cap (calyx) is attached, green and fresh-looking.
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*Image used for illustration purposes
