CHERRIES ON TOP
Q: What does it mean to ‘cherry pick’ something?
This weekend, Young, NSW, the birthplace of the Australian Cherry Industry, is hosting the 62nd National Cherry Festival. First commercially planted in 1878, Young accounts for 60% of the total cherry production in NSW. While NSW and VIC have traditionally been the cherry capitals of Australia, Tassie is hot on their heels as the home of our cherry exports, which is more the pity for us locals as the temperate maritime climate of the island produces lush, large fruit.
A member of the rose family, the majority of eating cherries are classified as either a sweet (Prunus Avium) or sour cherry (Prunus Cerasus). Sweet cherries are believed to have come from a wild cherry once found in the Caspian– Black Sea region, these cherries are delicious both fresh and cooked. Sour varieties can also be eaten fresh but are most often used for cooking, baking and preserving due to their tart flavour.
In recent years, plantations have been established outside traditional growing areas in the hope of prolonging the traditional cherry season which runs from November to February. Similarly to strawberries, a constant supply of cherries is achieved by harvesting different varieties at staggered intervals. To achieve a consistent supply, some states will grow more than 50 different varieties of cherry. It is therefore difficult to compile an exhaustive list, so the table below focuses on the main cherry varieties in NSW, when to look out for them and what to expect.
New Australian selections are starting to make their mark but are not yet commercially strong, keep an eye out for Sir Dom, Sir Tom, Dame Roma, Sir Douglas, Dame Nancy and Sir Hans in coming seasons.
So far, the 2011 season has brought mixed fortunes for Australian cherry growers. Cherries are extremely delicate and rains or high winds at harvest time can spell disaster for growers as they can cause the cherries to split or bruise. While the Yarra Valley, Central and North Eastern VIC are projecting one of their most fruitful season’s in decades (if the weather holds), NSW regions are battling high rains that are already causing some of the bigger fruit to split. While still hopeful, local farmers are warning that NSW markets may see a smaller fruit size this year as a result.
To kick of the season with a bang, here are some inspired cherry recipes to sink your teeth into:
- SAVOURY: Roast Duck with cherries & roast kipfler potatoes
- SWEET: Watermelon, cherry and rose salad, with shortbread, yoghurt & cherry syrup
- PICKLED: Pickled Cherries (have with duck, pork belly or blue veined cheese)
- SLAMMING: Esta Bebida 2
To find out more about the delicious cherry varieties on offer or to place your order contact Simon George & Sons.
A: Cherries don’t ripen after they’ve been picked, so it has always been important to choose your fruit carefully. To cherry pick is to inspect something very closely, so you come out with only the very best. With this in mind, how do you cherry pick a cherry?
A cherry’s colour is highly dependent on variety, so a darker skin will not necessarily be the best indicator of maturity. Instead, look for a cherry that is good and plump, with glossy skin and a nice green stem. Avoid soft, dull or bruised fruit or small hard cherries as they will lack flavour and juice.
BUYER'S GUIDE: 29/11/11 - 05/12/11
As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:
BEST BUYS:
FRUIT:
Cavendish Bananas- large (QLD)
Plums (NSW)
R2E2 Mangoes (QLD)
Rockmelon (QLD)
Watermelon (QLD)
VEGETABLES:
Chat Potato - small (SA)
Cherry truss tomatoes (NSW)
Medium tomatoes (QLD)
New Season: Portabello Mushroom (NSW)
Telegraph Cucumber (QLD)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Dragon Fruit (QLD)
Lychee (QLD)
Mangosteen (Imported)
Rambutan (QLD)
Red Currants (VIC)
Edible Flowers (VIC)
Popcorn Sprouts (VIC)
New Season: Heirloom Tomatoes (NSW)
Roma - Baby truss tomatoes (NSW)
Spring Onions (NSW)
SORRY NOT THIS WEEK:
END OF SEASON:
Mandarin
Red Tamarillo
SHORT SUPPLY:
Asparagus - No2
Lotus Root
NOT AVAILABLE:
Winter Melon
BUYER'S GUIDE: 22/11/11 - 28/11/11
As your eyes at the markets, here’s this week’s seasonal update from our buyers:
BEST BUYS:
FRUIT:
Red delicious apples - small (NSW)
Cavendish Bananas (QLD)
Honeydew Melon (QLD)
Mango (NT)
Nectarine (NSW)
VEGETABLES:
Green Bean (QLD)
New Season: Lebanese Cucumber (NSW)
Iceberg Lettuce (NSW)
Pontiac Potato (NSW)
New Season: Red Cherry Tomatoes (NSW)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Assorted Micro-herbs (VIC)
Blackberries (NSW)
Cherries (NSW- Ronn's)
Chestnuts (VIC)
Dragon Fruit (QLD)
Edible Flowers (VIC)
Lychees (QLD)
New Season: Heirloom Tomatoes (NSW)
Popcorn Sprouts (VIC)
Rambutan (QLD)
SORRY NOT THIS WEEK:
SHORT SUPPLY:
Green Cooking Papaya
Lotus Root
NOT AVAILABLE:
Gold Kiwifruit
Winter Melon
THE APPLE OF LOVE
Q: They’re tasty, but are tomatoes good for you?
A member of the nightshade family, tomatoes, or apples of love as they were once known, were introduced to the world following the Spanish conquest of Central America in the 1500s. While it is now a staple ingredient in cuisines the world over, the last 500 years has seen this lush fruit compete with the rosebud as a token of love, named as the subject of numerous court battles and decreed as poisonous. Despite its controversial history, 2008 saw 130 million tonnes of tomatoes produced worldwide, with China leading the charge at a staggering 33 million tonnes per annum.
Technically a fruit, the tomato is most commonly used as a vegetable. This is due to the glusamate content of the tomato which gives it a rich flavour that sits somewhere between sweet and savoury, making them perfect for eating both fresh and cooked.
The tomatoes we see today are nothing like the fruit first cultivated in the Americas. Over the years, tomatoes have been specifically bred for the purposes of increased disease resistance and aesthetic appeal. These programs have resulted in higher yields for farmers and the dominance of tomatoes that are uniform of shape and intense of colour i.e. the round, red fruit we see today. Unfortunately, many people believe that these programs have also resulted in loss of flavour and texture.
With this in mind, we have seen a widespread increase in demand for heirloom (heritage) varieties, organic, truss and vine-ripened fruits, as they offer the most authentic tomato experience.
Beyond these distinctions, there are many other tomato varieties that are worth including on the plate:
BEEFSTEAK OXHEART (Heirloom):
Availability: One of the favourite heirlooms, the oxheart is currently in short supply (as are all heirlooms) but is about to hit peak
Description: Large, very fragrant heirlooms. Tend to have a stripy skin with background
Flavour: Juicy with solid meat
Best Use: Slicing, sandwiches
BELLA ROSSA (loose):
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Appear similar to baby roma but are more square than egg shaped.
Flavour: Firm and sweet
Best Use: Salads, snacking, roasting whole
BLACK KUMATO:
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Dark brown/red when ripe
Flavour: Low in acid which makes them very sweet with a distinctive ‘kumato’ flavour
Best Use: Colour adds a unique twist to gourmet dishes. Dark brown are good for gourmet dishes, salads, sandwiches. Dark red is good for soups and sauces.
BLACK KUMATO- GRAPE:
Availability: Generally available
Description: Hydroponically grown these are a new variety. Dark chocolate.
Flavour: Low in acid which makes them very sweet with a distinctive ‘kumato’ flavour
Best Use: Snacking, salads, pasta sauces
BLACK RUSSIAN (Heirloom):
Availability: December - March
Description: Medium sized with dark olive skin and chocolate, red flesh
Flavour: Sweet
Best Use: Adding colour to a gourmet dish, salad
CHERRY (available loose or truss):
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Small variety, around 2cm in diameter. Mainly sold as yellow or red fruit, though it is possible to get heirloom cherry and grape medley packs
Flavour: Sweet and crunchy. The yellow fruit tends to have less acid and therefore be sweeter again
Best Use: Salads, roasting whole, snacking
GOURMET/FIELD/ROUND:
Availability: Generally available
Description: These are the standard round, red tomato we know and love
Flavour: Rich, full flavour
Best Use: All rounder
GRAPE:
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Small oval (approx 4cm) that comes to a point. Mainly sold as red or yellow fruit (yellow is slightly smaller), though it is possible to get heirloom cherry and grape medley packs
Flavour: The red and yellow varieties are very sweet due to their high sugar content
Best Use: Snacking
ROMA: (available loose or truss)
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Medium sized, elongated oval fruit that is rich red when ripe
Flavour: Sweet and juicy
Best Use: A plum tomato, low water and seed content make them perfect for cooking. Hold shape well under heat.
ROMA- BABY
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Small, generally about half the size of full Romas
Flavour: Intensely sweet, not as sweet as cherry tomatoes but still tasty
Best Use: Salads, sandwiches, antipasto, roasting, BBQ
TEARDROP/PEAR:
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Description: Small fruit shaped like a pear/teardrop, this tomato can be red or yellow
Flavour: Mild and juicy, yellow teardrops have no acid and are very sweet
Best Use: Salads, snacking
MEDLEY:
Medley punnets showcase a variety of heirloom cherry and grape tomatoes, that bring a fantastic array of flavours, textures and colours to the plate.
Availability: Generally available, though supply can fluctuate throughout the year
Best Use: Salads, snacking
A: Tomatoes are a nutritionist's dream. Generally a good source of vitamin C, E, A and fibre, they are set apart by their high lycopene content. One of the most powerful, natural antioxidants, lycopene has been proven to ward off various types of cancer by preventing the growth of cancerous cells. In fact, scientists believe that just one glass of tomato juice a day could have a huge impact on your future health. Interestingly, the lycopene in a tomato is not compromised by the cooking process, in fact the lycopene levels increase making it even more beneficial to the consumer.
BUYER'S GUIDE - 15/11/11-21/11/11
As your eyes at the markets, here's this week's seasonal update from our buyers:
BEST BUYS:
FRUIT:
Cavendish Bananas (QLD)
Cherries (NSW)
Mango (NT)
Peach (NSW)
Blueberries (QLD)
VEGETABLES:
Broccolini (VIC)
Red Capsicum (QLD)
Eggplant (QLD)
Rhubarb (NSW)
Yellow Squash (QLD)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Dragon Fruit
Green mangoes
Habanero Chillies
Hawaiian Sweet Potato
Micro Herbs
Plums
Rambutan
SORRY NOT THIS WEEK:
SHORT SUPPLY:
Small Granny Smith apples
Lotus Root
Purple Basil
NOT AVAILABLE:
Borlotti Beans
Yellow Zucchini
SOME LIKE IT HOT
Q: Explosive chillies?? How hot are we talking?
South American food has seen a major revival in Sydney over the last few years. The strong South American contingent at this year’s Crave’s World Chef Showcase was a clear indication of the interest in South American flavours among foodies, while a Masterchef appearance by the 2 hatted Porteno team has seen Aussie barbies flaring to life.
The pepper (capsicum) is one of the most important seasoning ingredients in South American food, both the sweet and hot varieties are treasured and used widely. Unfortunately, the meaning of pepper tends to get lost in translation. Many varieties look very similar, and depending on where you are and who you talk to, peppers can be chillies, chillies can be capsicums and capsicums can be sweet peppers?! Clear as mud!
While Australians refer to Bell Pepper/Sweet Pepper as a capsicum, ‘capsicum’ is actually the genus name for the flowering plants that produce sweet peppers and their fiery cousins, chillies. Capsicums fall under the umbrella of the Nightshade family, which also includes tomatoes, eggplants and the pepino. As we are now coming into peak season for Capsicums in Australia, below is a list of the main varieties you’ll see cropping up at the markets.
OH SO SWEET: These capsicums have a zero to low Scoville rating. A recessive gene in bell peppers actually eliminates capsaicin
CAPSICUM
Alias: Bell Pepper, Sweet Pepper
- COLOURS: Green, Red, Orange, Yellow, Red.
- APPEARANCE: Large, block shaped fruit with 4-6 lobes and seeds on the inside
- AVAILABILITY: All year, best between November - June
- FLAVOUR: Sweet
- Green is less sweet and slightly more bitter
- Red fruit can contain up to 2 tablespoons of natural sugar
- BEST FOR: Everything, as long as you aren’t looking for heat
- TASTY FACT: Red capsicums are the most nutritious, having more carotene, lycopene, and vitamins than their younger green siblings.
GOURMET ORANGE/YELLOW:
Alias: Paprika
- COLOURS: Orange and Yellow
- APPEARANCE: Similar to regular bell peppers, however ½ to 2/3rd the size
- AVAILABILITY: All Year, best between October and April
- FLAVOUR: Sweet
- BEST FOR: A sweet, colourful addition to salads, also good for stuffing or roasting
HUNGARIAN CAPSICUM:
- COLOUR: White to cream
- APPEARANCE: Similar in size and shape to Gourmet Capsicum range
- AVAILABILITY: All Year, best between November to March
- BEST FOR: Goulash! Salads, stuffing or roasting
BULLHORN:
- COLOUR: Red, Green, Yellow
- APPEARANCE: Long, curved and tapered to a point
- AVAILABILITY: October to March
- FLAVOUR: Sweet, fruity
- BEST FOR: Stuffing or as a substitute for bell peppers
BABY CAPSICUM- VINE SWEET:
- COLOUR: Yellow to Red
- APPEARANCE: Mini capsicums between 5-7cms
- AVAILABILITY: All Year
- FLAVOUR: Sweet and crunchy
- BEST FOR: Salads, Stir fries, gourmet presentation
IL BELLO ROSSO (BABY RED CAPSICUMS):
- COLOUR: Red
- APPEARANCE: Mini capsicums between 5-7cms
- AVAILABILITY: All Year
- FLAVOUR: Sweet and mild
- BEST FOR: Salads, Stir fries, gourmet presentation
BRING ON THE HEAT: These chillies have capsaicin present in the white pith around the seeds and the seeds themselves, the capsaicin is what brings on the burn.
LONG CHILLIES:
Alias: Cayenne Pepper
- COLOUR: Green to Red, depending on stage of maturity. Green is immature, red is ripe.
- APPEARANCE: Long and slender, tapering to a point.
- AVAILABILITY: All Year, best between September and March as cooler months affect the heat of the chilli
- FLAVOUR: Range from Mild and Sweet to moderately hot
- Green: Hot
- Red: Sweet and spicy
- THE BURN: Hot. Similar to Tabasco. Scoville = 30,000- 60,000
- BEST FOR: Indian, Chinese, Indonesian and Thai Cuisine
JALAPENO:
- COLOUR: Green (sometimes allowed to mature to red)
- APPEARANCE: Medium sized, 5-9cm long, firm
- AVAILABILITY: All Year
- FLAVOUR: Spicy capsicum
- THE BURN: Medium- Hot. Scoville = 10,000
- BEST FOR: Seasoning, spicing up sauces, salsa, soups
HABANERO:
- COLOUR: Unripe habaneros are green but when mature can be orange, red, brown, pink or even white
- APPEARANCE: Habaneros are short and look like a small bell pepper with the air sucked out.
- AVAILABILITY: All year, best in Nov-Mar
- FLAVOUR: Hot and Spicy with a hint of citrus/tropical
- THE BURN: The deep burn, the Habanero is one of the hottest available averaging between 100,000-350,000 on the Scoville scale (some have been known to hit 600,000)
- BEST FOR: An angry sauce!
BIRDS EYE:
Alias: Thai Chilli
- COLOUR: Red when mature, but can also be yellow, purple or black
- APPEARANCE: Small and round, lots of seeds
- AVAILABILITY: All Year
- FLAVOUR: Punchy
- THE BURN: Hot!! Scoville = 50-000 to 100,000
- BEST FOR: Thai, Vietnamese and Cambodian dishes- adding heat to pasta, soups, sauces, salads and dips
BANANA CHILLI
Alias: Hungarian Yellow Wax
- COLOUR: Yellow to orange.
- APPEARANCE: Curved, comes to a point. Thick, waxy flesh
- AVAILABILITY: All Year
- FLAVOUR: Sweet and Hot, similar in heat to a Jalapeno
- THE BURN: Medium-Hot. Scoville = 5,000 – 10,000
- BEST FOR: Stuffing, soups, sauces and salads
BISHOP’S CROWN:
Alias: Christmas Bell
- COLOUR: Immature is pale green, matures to red
- APPEARANCE: Distinct wings on 3 to 4 pods
- AVAILABILITY: In height of season
- FLAVOUR: Fruity and spicy
- THE BURN: Medium- Hot. Scoville = 5,000- 30,000
- BEST FOR: Salsa, stir fries, drying or pickling
A: The hottest chilli recorded to date is the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T Pepper which recorded over 1,400,000 on the Scoville rating. They’re so hot they come with a safety warning! “Exposure to the eye or skin near the eyes when handling this pepper could cause temporary blindness. While preparing the Butch T, one should wear a chemical mask or a body suit to defend against fumes given off in the cooking process.” To give you an idea of how hot that is, the second strongest chilli in the world, the Bhut Jolokia, is being used by the Indian military as an anti-terrorist measure. Used as Chilli Grenades they choke the enemy's respiratory tract, leaving targets barely able to breathe, while their eyes, throat and skin, burn and sting. Now that’s explosive.
THE PITS
Q: Where does our Stonefruit come from?
The Australian stone fruit season is underway with early season peaches, nectarines and cherries now available.
Drupes (stone fruits) are fleshy fruits whose seed is encased in a stone at its centre- peaches, nectarines, cherries, plums, apricots (and almonds) all belong to this family. Stone fruit can be broken down into; clingstone, freestone or semi-cling fruits. It is difficult to tell from the appearance of the fruit whether it’s a clinger or a free spirit, so ask your supplier to confirm which they have in stock.
Clingstone:
Stone clings to the fruit at all stages of maturity and needs to be pried off. Good eating but more time consuming to prepare. Best for: jams, jellies, sauces, purees.
Freestone (Slipstone):
Flesh separates easily from the stone allowing for attractive slices to be produced. Freestone are the most popular varieties. Best for: any dish where the appearance of the fruit is important
Semi-cling:
A hybrid of clingstone and freestone, the stone separates from the pit when fully ripe. Tend to be smaller than freestone. Best for: everything, good all-rounder
Peaches and nectarines are the first stone fruits to hit the markets in summer, so here’s the low down on the much loved Persian Apple and its shaved fraternal twin.
Despite the rather common belief that the nectarine is a cross between a peach and a plum, peaches and nectarines are actually the same species. A nectarine is really just a peach whose recessive gene came up trumps in the DNA lottery.
As there are a vast number of peach and nectarine varieties produced in Australia (often with a very short season), it is common practice to group them by the colour of their flesh (i.e. yellow or white) rather than listing the individual variety.
PEACHES:
Yellow flesh:
Most popular varieties in Australia, yellow flesh are usually the first peaches on the market. Tangy and tasty. Availability: September – March
White Flesh:
Season starts slightly later than yellow flesh varieties, though there is an early variety available in October. With less sub-acid varieties, these tend to be a juicy, sweet alternative. Availability: October- March
NECTARINES:
Yellow Flesh:
These have always been more common, though recently white flesh have closed the gap. A mix of sweet and light acid flavours. Availability: November – March
White Flesh:
Hold the acid, these are sweet and fragrant. Availability: November to March
To get the juices flowing, here are some tasty stone fruit recipes from entrée to dessert:
Peach Chicken, lemon rice pilaf:
A: Approximately 100,000 tonnes of summer stonefruit is produced between October and April each year, by over 1200 growers. Early season produce comes from sub-tropical QLD (20% of total production), northern WA and NSW. This is then followed by crops from mid to southern NSW, parts of VIC (Swan Hill) and the Riverland of SA. Fruit from the cooler climates is last to market. Renmark, Swan Hill and the Goulburn Valley (Shepparton and Cobram) represent more than 50% of Australia’s summer stonefruit production, while Tasmania produces all the Australian-grown apricots harvested in mid January to February. Source: Summerfruit Australia
KING OF FRUITS
Q: How do I make sure to get a kingly mango?
Each year Sydney eagerly awaits the tell-tale signs that summer is on its way; daylight savings, backpackers, streaky fake tans and last but not least the arrival of the mangoes.
For many Australians the mango is the taste of summer. As a versatile tropical fruit, the mango brings an instant flavour and colour hit to every dish, whether it be a salad, curry or tasty snack such as this Mango, lime and chilli salt recipe from Gourmet Traveller.
Australia produces approximately 45,000 tonnes of mangoes a year with the Sunshine State (QLD) taking the mantle of top producer at 72% of the total market. The potential for growth however has seen regions such as the NT increase their production dramatically, with NT now accounting for 23% of production. Currently 90% of the commercial crop in Australia is Kensington Pride, though new varieties such as Calypso™, R2E2 and Honey Gold™ are increasing in popularity amongst growers and consumers.
Here’s what to expect from your mangoes this season.
Kensington Pride (aka Bowen)
Appearance: Medium sized, oval fruit with orange skin tinged with pink/red and gold flesh
Flavour: Sweet, tangy
Background: The main mango variety in Australia, it was originally grown in Bowen, QLD in the 1960s after being introduced by horse traders dealing with India. The name Kensington was a reference to the name of the farm upon which one of the pioneers of the variety, Harry Lott, grew his fruit.
R2E2
Appearance: Round, large fruit with deep orange skin and a light yellow flesh
Flavour: Mild and sweet.
Background: A seedling derivative of the Kent, the R2E2 was first released for commercial production in 1991 and takes its name from the row and position of the original tree at the DEEDI´s Bowen Research Station. This variety is gaining popularity due to its long shelf life and high flesh to seed ratio
Calypso™
Appearance: Smooth deep orange skin with firm, fibreless flesh
Flavour: Full sweet flavour- good for salads
Background: A recent addition to the mango varieties in Oz, the Calypso™ is a cross between the Kensington Pride and Sensational varieties. The high flesh to seed ratio and good shelf life make this a cost effective option for chefs
Keitt (aka Condo Mango)
Appearance: Medium to large, thick skin with green base colour and pink to bronze blush
Flavour: Sweet orange flesh with no fibre and a mild lemony taste
Background: Finding its feet in the 80s in Australia, the Keitt is now a top four performer. Keitt received its name from the name of the woman who owned its original plantation .
Honey Gold™
Appearance: When ripe the skin is golden apricot yellow with a natural waxy coating
Flavour: Sweet, aromatic and juicy. Firm, fibreless flesh
Background: The Honey Gold™ was cultivated in Rockhampton, when a Kensington Pride flower was inadvertently cross-pollinated with an unknown mango variety.
Palmer
Appearance: Small to medium sized, elongated fruit with a dark red blush that covers most of the skin
Flavour: Sweet and mild, the flesh is juicy and aromatic- similar to Kensington Pride
Background: A small player in the Australian Mango industry the Palmer accounts for only 5% of total production, despite being grown commercially in QLD for over a decade.
Pearl™
Appearance: Smaller mango with flecked skin that has an orange to red blush
Flavour: Tangy and fresh
Background: Considered a good mango for the kitchen despite being smaller than other varieties, due to its high flesh to seed ratio, long shelf life and firm flesh.
Brooks
Appearance: Medium-size oblong with no beak and a pale pink-orange skin with no blush when ripe
Flavour: Sweet, mild flesh
Background: One of the original Florida cultivars, Brooks- also known as Brooks Late, is a mango variety that originated as a seedling of Sandersha in 1901. Brooks is the latest maturing variety in Australia.
Kent
Appearance: Medium to large oval, skin is smooth with a red blush that borders on purple
Flavour: Rich and sweet- great for juicing and drying
Background: Another descendant of Brooks (crossed with the Haden variety), the Kent mango was introduced to Australia in the 1970s.
Source: Australia Fresh
Bring the flavour of summer to your menu, contact Simon George & Sons for more information.
A: Unlike many other fruits, you can’t tell the quality of a mango by the colour of its skin. Instead select mangoes that are firm and heavy for their size with a distinct, pleasant fragrance. The skin should be bright with no black spots or mushy indentations. If you want to eat the mango right away, gently squeeze the stem end with your finger and thumb, if it gives slightly, then the fruit is ripe. Unripe mangoes will ripen if stored at room temperature. Once ripe, you can prolong the shelf life of the mango by placing it in the refrigerator, where it will keep for 2-3 days.