“A fair bit more product available this week. Mushrooms are fantastic quality and great value again. Capsicums are still reasonable particularly the red nets. Loose beetroot is easing in price and will be on special for the weekend. Twin pack Cos have eased; carrots remain very reasonable and there are lots of herbs for the this time of the year.”

“United States cherries, free of tariffs, are now from Washington state. The climate is far better suited to cherry growing than the Californian product that we have been selling to date, so it’s better cheaper fruit.

Bananas are plentiful and we expect to have a very attractive special again this weekend. Lots of choices on Mandarins; the southern Imperials are top quality, and we have very good Murcotts and Daisies (the variety of Mando) as well.

Apples are fantastic. The West Australian Bravo variety that we have are far superior to the Victorian fruit which we see in most opposition stores. We are now in full swing with Hass avocados and the imperfect fruit is really cheap.

Navel oranges are really at their best, buy a 3kg net for value. The berries are still being held back with the abnormally cold weather Queensland is receiving. There are still some good red seedless grapes available but it’s time to farewell the white varieties. Papaya is eating fantastically, but only if it’s golden yellow ripe fruit”

“The subject of imported fruit always raises questions with both farmers and customers, and I think that is quite legitimate where the imports overlap or even go close to overlapping the local fruit. In some categories, this does happen and to me makes no sense. However, with cherries, the imports start a minimum three months after our season finishes and they finish around two and a half months before the Aussie crop commences.

The cherries from the USA fall into two distinct categories. Commencing in late May, we get Californian cherries which although they were quite good this year, are always a lesser fruit than the cherries from Washington state which we commenced this week. This fruit is fantastic quality and considering the transport costs getting them here to us is very inexpensive.

Great varieties, delicious fruit and I think this will be the best price of the import season. Enjoy them the next few weeks and then wait for the Aussie fruit in November.