Fresh Produce Report 30 May

 

Vegetables are returning to their usual prices however there should still be bargain potatoes, sweet potato, onion, pumpkin and carrots on the shelves.

Machine picked beans are a cheaper alternative over the expensive handpicked variety.

Other vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, silverbeet, spinach, leeks, spring onions and zucchinis have firmed in price, while the value of cauliflowers continues to yoyo.

It’s avocado season and there are plenty of quality, bargain priced fruit to select from. All varieties of tomatoes are returning to the shelves with improved quality and easing prices.

Iceberg lettuce is more expensive but mixed leaf salad and cos lettuce remain at a steady price. Cucumbers are becoming better value for money.

All citrus lines, including lemons, limes, navels and the sweet, easy-to-peel imperial mandarins are eating well and of great value.

Pink ladies are the pick of the crop, with all apple varieties at their best mid season. Bananas, pears and kiwi fruit are also plentiful and cheap however grapes are at their season’s end, with the crimson the best tasting variety.

Blueberries and raspberries are tough to find, and are expensive, so look at replacing them with Queensland strawberries as the season starts to kick in, with some bargains already on offer.

Rockmelon is of mixed quality and expensive so try seedless watermelons which have come back in price and are eating well.

Papaw has reduced in price, with the red variety the best buy and eating. Passionfruit are out of season and expensive but there is still plenty to fill an exotic fruit plater including tamarillo, carambola (star fruit), guava, pomegranate, dragon fruit, sapote, persimmons and nashi pear, which combines the juiciness of a pear with the crispness of an apple.