Fresh Produce Report 22 December

There is an abundance of healthy, tasty vegetables available to feed the visitors and family after last week’s Christmas indulgence with prices the cheapest they have been all year.

All green leafy vegetables, pumpkins and potatoes, corn, carrots, onions, beans, beetroot, eggplant, cabbage, broccoli and Australian capsicum are quality eating and cheap.

The exception is Australian asparagus, brussels sprouts and zucchinis which are in shorter supply and are medium to expensive in price.

All green leafy salad produce, including mixed leaf, herbs and lettuce are cheap with cos the only variety that is slightly higher in price. Cucumbers have risen in price but are reasonable.

A full selection of quality tomatoes are on offer and are value for money. Look for specials on avocados with their abundance of supply keeping the prices low.

Try to slip banana into any of your post-Christmas fruit salads, cakes or drinks with the fruit at rock bottom prices. If you like ripe bananas, choose a bright yellow skin with green tips at each end that is free from bruising.

Festive season favourites such as lychees, mangoes and all stonefruit are plentiful, tasty and should be well priced although it is always advised to sample one to see if they are to your liking.

Grapes are expensive but good quality. All berries, including blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, have tumbled in price. Rockmelon and water melon are cheap.

Passionfruit remains expensive. Look for topless pineapples, which are eating well. All citrus is well priced, other than limes, which have been expensive for some weeks.

For anyone still wanting their staples in the fruit bowl, apples and pears are at the end of their season but a wide choice of stored fruit is available.