BUYER'S GUIDE: 8th May - 14th May
The cooler weather and the changeover of growing areas is affecting some products (these will hold throughout winter or come back into play once the QLD season switches on in 3 to 4 weeks time).
Main products affected:
Figs: Price on the move and supply slowing as the season comes to an end. SGS will have supply right throughout winter, just watch the cost from June onwards
Grapes: Quality Seedless White and Coloured on the move up in price
Honeydew: QLD season has commenced and it is expected price, quality and supply will hold as is for the winter
Rockmelon: QLD season has commenced, price will hold till the season get into full swing in the next 3 to 4 weeks
Strawberries: Limited supplies at present- eating quality just okay and price right up there. Will change with the QLD Season commencing early June
Tomatoes: QLD- Bowen season about 3 weeks away, expect market to stay high till then
Watermelons: Quality is better in the small size melons for both varieties, price back this week
FRUIT:
Honeydews, Rockmelons & Strawberries the 3 main products to watch out for- price and quality.
Prime Products are Apples, Pears, Citrus, Hass Avocados, Bananas, Pineapples, Kiwifruit, Imported Dates, Dragonfruit, Pomegranates, Pomelos & Quince.
VEGIES:
Tomatoes, Gold Squash, Red Witlof, Gourmet Rocket & Spinach are the mains ones to watch this week- quality, supply and price. Rocket will be short due to poor weather down south.
Prime Products are Artichokes, Beans - Broad, Borlotti, Continental & Green, Broccolini, Cauliflowers, Celery, Eggplant, Cos and Iceberg Lettuce, Button Mushrooms, Sweet Potatoes & Zucchini.
News from WA: Bumper Truffle crop expect this coming season, peaking in July!
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Bethonga Pineapple (QLD) * Californian Dates (Import) * Granny Smith Apples- med (VIC) * Kiwifruit- bulk buy (VIC) * Mandarin (QLD)
Vegetable: Baby Broccoli (VIC) * Button Mushrooms (NSW) * Celeriac (NSW) * Silverbeet (NSW)- Sweet Potato - lge (QLD)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: Feijoas (NSW) * Longans (Import) * Mangoes (Import) * Pears - Beuure Bosc (VIC) * Pears - Honey(VIC)
Vegetable: Baby Dutch Carrot (NSW) * Baby Globe Artichoke (NSW) * Habanero Chili- HOT (NSW) * Honeycomb - full frame (QLD) * Portabello Mushroom (NSW)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply: Red Witlof
Not Available: Baby Red Capsicum * Green Mangoes * Oyster Mushroom- Pink * Oyster Mushroom- Yellow
BUYER'S GUIDE: 1st May - 7th May
It is a good market this week due to supply still outweighing demand for most of the main lines.
PROBLEMS: Rockmelons * Honeydews * Strawberries * Watermelons * Roma Tomatoes
SOLUTIONS: Bananas * Grapes * Kiwifruit * Mandarins * Pineapples * Tomatoes (small)
We are starting to see an increase in Winter lines at the markets and if the weather holds we should have a great winter 'fresh produce' wise. Also worth a mention, as of last week, 90% of Australia's growing regions are classified drought free. Amen!
FRUIT:
Everything except stonefruit, melons (all) and straweberries are in good supply, good eating and well priced.
Apples, Pears, Avocadoes, New Season Navel Oranges, Mandarins, Pineapples, Quinces, Pomegranates and imported mangoes are the picks of the week.
VEGETABLES:
Just Roma Tomatoes, Cherry Truss and Shiso Leaf are the main ones to watch out for this week, otherwise it's a green light from Artichokes to Zucchinis.
Beetroot, Broccoli, Cauliflowers, Continental Cucumbers, Leeks, Sweet Potatoes, Swedes, Butternut Pumpkin and Zucchini are the veggie picks.
NB: New Season Australian Truffles will be available early June. Let the fun begin.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit: Bethonga Pineapple * Delicious Apples -med (VIC) * Grapefruit - Marsh (QLD) * Mandarin (QLD) * Pomegranate (NSW)
Vegetable: Beetroot - large (TAS) * Celeriac (NSW) * Leek - large (VIC) * Sweet Potato - large (QLD) * Zucchini - green (VIC)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit: Mango (Imported) * Mangosteen (Imported) * Papaya- green/cooking (QLD) * Quince (QLD)
Vegetable: Baby Globe Atichokes (NSW) * Baby Purple Carrots (NSW) * Roman (continental) Beans (NSW) * Red Witlof (VIC) * Tomato- Bella Rossa (NSW) * Tomato - Heirloom Mix (NSW)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply: Cherry Truss Tomatoes * Longan
Not Available: Broad Bean * Rambutan * Shiso Leaf
BUYER'S GUIDE: Asian/Exotics 24th Apr - 30th Apr
Some movement on Asian and Exotic produce lines, with early Mexican Mangoes arriving at the markets as well as short supply on some exotic fruits:
Asian Vegetables: Short Supply
Asian Celery * Gai Choy * Water Spinach
Asian Vegetables: Not Available
Kachay * Tamarind
Exotic Fruits: Short Supply
Longan * Mango * Mangosteen * Tamarillo (gold)* Tamarillo (red)
Exotic Fruits: Not Available
Asian Plum * Buddha Hands * Cumquats * Green Mangoes * Loquats * Lychee * Red Pomellos * Rambutan
BUYER'S GUIDE: 24th Apr - 30th Apr
Thankfully the wet has not had the expected negative affect on quality and supply this week, so the markets are performing much as they have for the last fortnight. Main items to watch out for are Melons (quality and price on all lines) and Tomatoes (just the quality- not at their best).
Fruit:
Clean slate and plenty to chose from. Stonefruit is O V E R. Imported Mexican Mangoes are on market this week as are the last of the late variety Brooks Mangoes. Blueberries are up in price, with supply shortening. As for the rest clear sailing!
Vegetables:
Just a few items to watch. Asparagus (price), Butter beans (quality and price), Yellow Capsicums & Gold Squash (price), Sweet Corn (price- as we move from local to QLD supply) and Cauliflowers (quality not a problem, just hold in price again this week). As for the rest, it's good to go.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit:
Bethonga Pineapple (QLD) * Grapes - red seedless (VIC)* Mandarin (QLD) * Oranges - juicing No2 (NSW) * Strawberries - medium (VIC)
Vegetables:
Baby Dutch Carrot (NSW) * Broccoli (VIC) * Celery (VIC) * Leek - large (VIC) * Kipfler Potatoes (QLD)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Fruit:
Corella Pears (NSW) * Feijoa (NSW) * Mangosteen (QLD) * Papaya - green/cooking (QLD) * Quince (QLD)
Vegetables:
Baby Globe Artichokes (NSW) * Baby Gold Beetroot (NSW) * Roman Beans- aka Continental (NSW) * Savoy Cabbage (NSW) * Tuscan Cabbage (NSW)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply:
Bella Rossa Tomatoes * Longans
Not Available:
Broad Beans * Nectarines * Rambutan
BUYER'S GUIDE: Asian/Exotics 17th Apr - 23rd Apr
Market update on Asian and Exotic produce lines:
Asian Vegetables: Short Supply
Asian Celery * Gai Choy * Water Spinach
Asian Vegetables: Not Available
Kachay * Tamarind
Exotic Fruits: Short Supply
Tamarillo (gold)* Tamarillo (red)
Exotic Fruits: Not Available
Asian Plum * Buddha Hands * Cumquats * Green Mangoes * Loquats * Lychee * Red Pomellos * Rambutan
BUYER'S GUIDE: 17th Apr- 23rd Apr
Another good week, much the same as the last. Main problem items Rockmelons, Honeydews & Seedless Watermelons.
Fruit:
Apples, Pears, New Season Hass Avocados, Bananas, Feijoas, Figs, Guavas, Grapes, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mandarins, Papaws & Pineapples. On the move up in price but still great quality are Blueberries, Strawberries, Oranges and Passionfruit. Bye Bye to Peaches & Nectarines and Plums in another week.
Vegetables:
Artichokes, Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Celery, All Cabbage, Eggplant, Fennel, Leeks, Iceberg & Cos Lettuce, Sweet Corn, Spuds & Zucchini. Tomatoes holding price and quality. Moving up in price - Broccoli, Cauliflowers & Gold Squash.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit:
Delicious Apples - med (VIC) * Fig Tray (NSW) * Grapes - red seedless (VIC)* Kiwifruit (VIC) * Mandarin (QLD)
Vegetables:
Celery (VIC) * Globe Artichoke (NSW) * Iceberg Lettuce (VIC) * Leek - large (VIC) * Mushrooms - cup (NSW)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Chestnuts (VIC)
Fruit:
New Season Avocado (QLD) * New Season Pink Lady apples (NSW) * Mangosteen (QLD) * Papaya - green/cooking (QLD) * New Season Quince (QLD) * Tamarillos- red (NSW)
Vegetables:
Baby Gold Beetroot (NSW) * Horseradish (SA) * Jicama aka Water yam (QLD)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply:
Broad Beans * Butter Bean - yellow
Not Available:
Nectarine * Peach * Rambutan
BUYER'S GUIDE: 11th Apr - 16th Apr
After better weather over the past few weeks the markets are looking brighter!! Only items still heavily affected are melons (price and quality) and tomatoes (more quality than price). Supply is up on demand, which has levelled the market and eased prices across the board
Fruit:
Farewell to Peaches and Nectarines, followed by Mangoes and Plums, over the next week or so. Best buying is still Apples, Pears and Bananas.
Plenty of variety on offer: Figs, Grapes (Red, Black & White), Lemons & Limes, New season Mandarins, Papaya, Passionfruit, Pineapples, Dragonfruit, Quinces, Strawberries and Tamarillo’s- all good quality with prices to suit.
Vegetables:
The trucks are full!! The cool, drier weather has brought on the staples and lifted quality. Think... Artichokes, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Celeriac, Cabbage, Asian Bunch Veg, Eggplant, Horseradish, Leeks, Cos & Iceberg lettuce, Mushrooms, Salads Mix’s, Swedes, Turnips, Sweet Corn, Spuds & Onions, all Pumpkins varieties and Zucchini.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit:
Corella Pears (VIC) * Delicious Apples - med (VIC) * Fig Tray (NSW) * Pineapple (QLD) * Strawberries - extra large (VIC)
Vegetables:
Bean - green (QLD) * Butternut Pumpkin (NSW) * Celeriac (QLD) * Brussel Sprouts (VIC) * Leek - large (VIC) * Mushroom - cup (NSW)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
Chestnuts (VIC)
Fruit:
Mandarins (QLD) * New Season Quince (QLD) * Tamarillo -red (NSW) *
Vegetables:
Fennel Bulb - large (VIC) * Galangal (QLD) * Globe Artichoke (NSW) * Horseradish (SA) * Jicama aka Water Yam (QLD) * Wild Pine Mushrooms (NSW)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply:
Honeydew Melon * Bella Rossa Tomatoes
End of Season:
Nectarines * Peaches
Not Available:
Green Peas (fresh)
BUYER'S GUIDE: Asian/Exotics - 3rd Apr-10th Apr
Market update on Asian and Exotic produce lines:
Asian Vegetables: Expensive
Thai Basil
Asian Vegetables: Short Supply
Asian Celery * Een Choy * Gai Choy * Ong Choy * Thai Eggplant * Water Spinach
Asian Vegetables: Not Available
Kachay * Tamarind
Exotic Fruits: Short Supply
Rambutan * Tamarillo (red)
Exotic Fruits: Not Available
Asian Plum * Buddha Hands * Cumquats * Green Mangoes * Loquats * Lychee * Red Pomellos * Tamarillo (gold) * Tangelos
BUYER'S GUIDE: 3rd Apr-10th Apr
The Market is looking ok for Easter Week with just a few items still in recovery mode from the wet weather- these include Melons (quality and price) and Avocados, Cos & Iceberg Lettuce (price).
Fruit:
NB. Nectarines and Peaches are all but done, quality is below par and eating quality and shelf life is limited.
As for the rest of the tribe all good and in most cases pricing is lower. Strawberry quality is sound, just up in price which is the usual for this time of the year.
Apples, Pears Bananas, Figs, Grapes, Pineapples, Pomegranates & Quinces are all good buying.
New Season Mandarins are in, but we recommend holding off for another week as they are eating on the dryer side.
Vegetables:
Looking good for the week as well. Big list to chose from, Asparagus, Beans Green, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflowers, Carrots, Celery, Eggplant, Mushrooms, Potatoes, Asian Veg etc etc.......
Tomatoes holding across the range but showing signs of the weather in terms of quality.
BEST BUYS:
Fruit:
Fig Tray (NSW) * Grapes - green seedless (VIC) * Packham Pears - green (VIC) * Pawpaw - yellow (QLD) * Pineapple (QLD)
Vegetables:
Asparagus - medium (Imported) * Bean - green (QLD) * Brussel Sprouts (VIC) * Eggplant (NSW) * Sweet Potato - large (QLD)
SOMETHING DIFFERENT:
New Season Chestnuts (VIC)
Fruit:
Blood Oranges (Imported) * Papaya - green/cooking (QLD) * New Season Quince (QLD)
Vegetables:
Baby Asparagus (Imported) * Baby Endive Lettuce (QLD) * Habanero Chillies (NSW) * Horseradish (SA) * Jicama aka Water Yam (QLD) * Wild Pine Mushrooms (NSW)
NOT THIS WEEK:
Short Supply :
Bella Rossa Tomatoes
End of Season:
Nectarines * Peaches
Not Available:
Baby Gold Beetroot * Green Peas (fresh)
THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT
Q: How do meats, fruit and other produce enhance a cheese course?
After a month of refining our taste buds at the NSW Wine Festival (winding up this weekend), we couldn’t help but be inspired by the ability of the gourmet cheese platter to cater to even the most discerning palate. While purists like their cheese with little distraction, most cheese courses use a carefully crafted selection of cheeses, cured meats and fresh produce to achieve a complex balance of flavours and textures. With this in mind, our bulletin this week profiles seasonal produce that will bring out the best in your Autumn cheese platter.
COOKED FRUIT: Slow-baked quinces are delicious, however jam and pastes with a tart or sweet flavour are also suitable
QUINCE:
Available: Mar - Aug
Growing Areas: Goulburn Valley, Granite Belt, Bathurst, Adelaide Hill
Appearance: round - pear shaped with hard, yellow skin
Flesh: hard, golden flesh which turns pale-dark pink when cooked
Flavour: highly fragrant. Very bitter making them unpleasant raw, however this deepens to a sweet, musky flavour when cooked
Selection: pick firm, yellow fruit with only a touch of green. Avoid fuzzy fruit as this indicates immaturity
Preparation: high pectin levels make quince perfect for making jams, jellies & preserves. The slower and longer a quince is cooked, the darker the end colour
FRESH FRUIT: APPLES, pears and GRAPES are platter favourites, however FIGS and FUJU PERSIMMON are also in season and are a colourful, delicious alternative
NASHI: aka Asian Pear, Oriental Pear, Apple-Pear, salad pear
Growing Areas: Goulburn Valley (90%)
Appearance: medium, round fruit with yellow-green slightly rough skin (can be flecked with white or brown depending on variety)
Flesh: creamy white, crisp and juicy flesh (like an apple)
Flavour: subtly sweet with medium sugar and high acid
Selection: choose light yellow-green fruit that are firm
Preparation: fresh and juicy- or cook similarly to apple or pear
BEURRE BOSC PEARS:
Growing Areas: predominantly Victoria however grown across Australia (ex. NT)
Appearance: med to large pear with an elongated neck, green-brown skin and a golden-brown russet that darkens as it ripens
Flesh: juicy, white flesh
Flavour: aromatic, sweet, buttery and juicy
Selection: fragrant and firm, ripe pears give a little when pressed at the stem
Preparation: fresh and juicy, poach in wine and spices
SWEET PERSIMMON: aka Fuji Fruit, Fuju Persimmon or Fuyu Fruit
Available: late Feb - June
Appearance: round fruit with a somewhat flat top and orange skin
Flesh: orange
Flavour: mild, sweet flavour
Selection: Should be bought when crisp and crunchy.
Preparation: When fresh, best enjoyed like an apple, otherwise can be used when soft/mature in cooking
SEMI-DRIED FRUIT: California dates are superb at the moment. Dried muscatel are also a good addition, however these will not be available for some time yet
CALIFORNIA MEJDOOL DATES:
Available: all year
Appearance: rich gold to dark brown, slightly wrinkled skin
Flesh: soft, slightly chewy
Flavour: rich and sweet- caramel tones
Selection: look for plump dates which are slightly glossy and gold-brown in colour. Avoid any with crystals on the skin
Preparation: slice and remove stone, fantastic fresh but can be also be used in cooking, baking, dipped in chocolate or stuffed
ROASTED NUTS: chestnuts are great eating at the moment, however almonds, pistachios, walnuts and hazelnuts are also suitable
CHESTNUTS:
Available: Apr - Jul
Growing Areas: North East VIC (70-80%), growers in all states
Appearance: heart shaped tree nut that has a tough, shiny dark brown shell
Flesh: creamy white nut - when cooked is similar to a roast potato in texture
Flavour: sweet and nutty - not suitable raw
Selection: buy heavy for size and firm as this indicates freshness
Preparation: short shelf life (1-2wks in fridge) though frozen nuts can be used for soups/purees. Lie chestnut on flat side and score the outer skin vertically, this stops them bursting when roasting (for your platter) or cooking them remove tough outer shell and thin inner skin (pellicle) prior to eating
A: A cheese course usually consists of 3-5 cheeses with different milk types (i.e. sheep milk, cows milk or goat milk) and textures (i.e. firm, washed-rind or blue) represented. The fruits, nuts and other accoutrement are used to enhance the unique character of these cheeses in different ways. For example, the sweet tones of fruit pastes/jams complement the rich taste of blue or French Brie, while fresh fruit provides a crisp, sweet contrast to salty cheeses and refreshes the palate. Warm, crunchy nuts are also popular (especially in the cooler months) as they provide a crunchy texture and enhance the nutty flavours in some cheeses. Other favourite additions to a cheese course include chewy fruits which complement firm cheeses, salty olives and crostini, crackers or specialty breads which help to cleanse the palate.