Fresh Produce Report 20 June

Asian vegetables have firmed in price with the cooler weather but there are plenty of green leafy options for the budget conscious to choose from such as silverbeet in sleeves and spinach.

Watch for specials on broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, capsicums, carrots, cauliflower, fennel, leek, sugar snaps, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and most pumpkin lines, although kent (sometimes called jap) and butternut pumpkins have firmed in price.

Beans, celery, parsnips, spring onions and sweet corn are of great quality but higher in price, with zucchini moderately priced.

All varieties of lettuce are storing well and are reasonably priced.

However, tomatoes, cucumbers, and pebbly dark green/purple hass and thin green skinned wurtz avocado varieties may cost more this week but are top quality eating.

It’s citrus season with cheap, sweet Queensland navels dominating the Market, along with the reddish fleshed, juicy hickson mandarins, which are replacing the earlier season imperial variety.  Lemons and limes are reasonably priced.

Apples and pears are still mid season, tasty, cheap and plentiful.  Bananas are of mixed quality and price this week, with the cheaper varieties lacking flavor.

For the best eating quality, look for cheap crimson seedless grapes, Australian kiwifruit over the important varieties, and only well coloured pineapples.

Raspberries, blueberries, rockmelons and honeydew remain expensive, papaws have firmed in price so try the red variety for the best taste, and look for weighty panama passionfruit to find value for money.