Fresh Produce Report 1 August

Despite the cooler, wetter Australian weather, there are still some tasty specials this week including beetroot, brussels sprouts, capsicums, carrots, celery, fennel, brushed and washed potatoes and sweet corn.

However, the weather has affected Asian vegetables, silverbeet and sleeve spinach, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, shallots, parsnip, pumpkin, zucchinis and squash making them expensive.

Onions are cheap. Broccoli and fresh peas are value for money. Egg fruit and snow peas are varied in their quality and prices.

Look for marked or out sized tomatoes this week to find a bargain with most varieties expensive, as are avocados, spring onions and cucumbers. 

Cos and iceberg lettuces and most mixed leaf salads remain good quality and well priced.

Citrus is in full season with quality, cheap lemons, grapefruit, outstanding navel oranges and murcott mandarins eating well. For something different try tangelos and blood oranges or start cooking up some spicy skinned cumquats or seville oranges, sometimes known as bitter, sour or marmalade oranges while their short season lasts.

Apples and pears are still great eating, great quality and cheap. Watch for crisp, grainy textured Australian nashi pears.

Choose Australian crimson and black grapes and gold kiwi fruit over the imported varieties.

Figs are glasshouse grown at this time of year and expensive. Bananas are still firm in price. The last of the custard apples are on the shelves and look for smaller fruit when choosing pineapples, which have firmed in price.

Passionfruit prices have eased but papaw, honeydew, rockmelon and seedless watermelon are expensive and varied in quality. There are still well priced Queensland strawberries on offer.