FRUITS
Unzip juicy mandarins. They are easy to peel and make an ideal snack at$3-$7 a kilo. There are four varieties to choose from: Afourer,Imperial, Hickson, Daisy, and Honey Murcott.Alternatively, enjoy a juicy tangelo at $3-$7 a kilo, depending on size.
Creamy Queensland bananas are an energy-boosting fruit that is ahealthy choice for the whole family. They are perfect for snacks or add slicedbananas to your morning porridge for a naturally sweet and creamy twist. Topwith a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of honey for extra flavour. Bananassell for $3-$5 a kilo, depending on quality and size.
Harness the tangy juice of lemons to create luscious desserts, orblend their zest with crushed garlic, parsley, and olive oil for a flavourful gremolata,perfect for drizzling over soup, Ossobuco, or slow-roasted lamb shanks. Lemonsare $3-$7 per kilo, depending on quality and size.
At this time of year, strawberries predominate in Queensland, butcooler weather in the growing area slows production. This week, we also sawsupplies from Victora and Western Australia. Berries are eating nicely, butprices are still $4-$7 a punnet.
Nutritious and naturally sweet pears are perfect for creating elegantdesserts or enjoying poached pears for breakfast. Whether poached,roasted, baked, or stewed, pears are a great value at $3-$6 per kilo, dependingon variety and size.
Who else loves juicy, vibrant, ruby-fleshed blood oranges? Thesesmallish, delightful oranges are worth a squeeze. Put the squeeze on a kilo ortwo this week. Check out this lovely combination of rhubarband strawberries in blood orange juice — it's fabulous served warm with icecream or on your porridge for breakfast. Blood oranges are$6-$8 a kilo, and rhubarb is $4-$5 a bunch.
Winter raspberries are grown in northern NSW and southern Queensland. While not at their peak season,the fruit is eating nicely, and raspberries are delicious, teamed with applesin winter puddings and muffins. Depending on size and quality, expect to pay$3-$7 a punnet.
VEGETABLES
Chilly days call for bowls or mugs of soul-warming soups, rich in flavour and high innutritional value. The delicate flavour of leeks is the key tomany great-tasting soups. When caramelised, leeks add a delightful sweetnessand depth of flavour, pairing superbly with cauliflower, celeriac, carrots,pumpkin, sweet potato, and tomato. Leeks are a popular winter choice, priced at$2.50-$3 each or bunches.
Nutritious Brussels sprouts are full of goodness and currently of superb quality, pricedat $7-$10 per kilo. This flavourful Brusselssprouts, bok choy, and chicken stir-fry is perfect for a healthy, satisfying meal.
Field gown red and green capsic*ms from Queensland are more reasonably priced thisweek at $4-$8 a kilo, depending on colour and quality.
Roast chopped orange sweet potato (kumara) with red onion wedges inolive oil flavoured with cumin and coriander for 30 minutes or until tender.Serve with lamb or beef. Kumara is $3-$5 a kilo. Warm up with a comforting bowlof Moroccanroasted sweet potato and chickpea soup. This nutritious and flavourful soupcombines sweet potatoes with chickpeas, tomatoes, and a blend of spices for ahearty and satisfying meal.
Slice fennel and add it to rich meat or chicken casseroles, pan-fry it with fish, or thinlyslice and toss it into a salad with parmesan. Use the feathery leaves as asubstitute for dill in recipes. Fennel is best stored in a plastic bag in thecrisper section of the fridge and used within five days. Currently, fennel isselling for $2-$3 per bulb.
Mighty mushrooms shine as a super healthy and savvy buy for buttons, cups, or flats at $10-$15 a kilo.A single serving of mushrooms can provide 20-100% of an adult's daily dose ofVitamin D. Add mushrooms to your breakfast, lunch, or dinner; they areversatile and tasty. These mushroom meatballs in cherry tomato sauce are a delicious way to smugglemushrooms into a meal for fussy eaters and boost the nutritional value andflavour of the meal.
Compact snow-white cauliflowers are a top buy at $4-$5 ahead. They areperfect for a bowl of cauliflower rice or scrumptious roasted or air-fried.
Mashed, boiled, baked, roasted or fried, you can't beat fresh Australian-grown potatoesfor versatility and value. Teamed with fresh herbs and potatoes, elevateyour mash with black olives and feta cheese. Your local greengrocer willhave 2-kilo and 5-kilo bags of versatile brushedpotatoes for $5-$7.
Celery is essential for winter vegetable soups, hearty casseroles, and appetising soupslike our creamy celery and blue cheese soup. The best way to keep celery is toremove the bulb and leaves and store the unwashed stems in an airtight plasticcontainer in the refrigerator. Wash just before using. Celery is $2-$4 a bunch.
With their crisp texture, bright green leaves and stems, and excellent nutritionalvalue, it's no surprise that Asian leafy green vegetables areso popular. To make your next stir-fry more authentic and delicious, toss in abunch of chopped gai lum, pakchoy, bok choy, or choy sum. They offer fantasticvalue at just $2-$2.50 per bunch.
Did you know you can freeze chestnuts? As the season draws to a close,it's the perfect time to stock up and freeze a supply. This ensures you havechestnuts to enjoy with your Christmas roast turkey or create healthy dips anddesserts. Chestnuts are available at your local greengrocer for $7-$12 perkilo.
FLOWERS
As winter unfolds, there is a dazzling array of seasonal blooms. This season, enjoy freesia, tulips, cymbidium orchids, lilies, stock, sweetpea, protea, banksia, poppies, purple iris, kale, delphinium, bird of paradise, lavender, snapdragon, protea, iris, Leucadendron, Geraldton wax, cotton, asters, and roses. For fragrance, consider bringing home lavender, hyacinth, and oriental lilies, while the thrifty jonquils and daffodils are perfect for budget-friendly options. Mix your flowers with attractive foliage to create a stunning display that captures the essence of the season. Embrace the beauty of winter with our spectacular range of flowers, perfect for any occasion or to brighten your day.
Prices quoted in this report are only relevant for the week of the report. All prices are estimates only as prices vary depending on variety, size and quality of produce and the trading area. For further information, please contact Sue Dodd, Marketing Consultant on 0438725453
Published On 2024-07-08 14:33:00
