Veg Speak #6

Well it’s once more into the breach my friends. I hope you have all had some well-earned family time and are ready for the many challenges that will no doubt come our way this year.

There is some great produce around the market. Not any “out there” stuff, just good quality staple items. Stone fruit is still quite strong, though Cherries are starting to drop off, both in quality and availability. Watermelon is just lush and so are the many Bean varieties. Read on Folks………

Snapshots

Apples and Pears are still fetching high prices, on the upside though there are good varieties of both fruit at our disposal. The green leaf lines, Iceberg, Cos and English spinach are in good supply and quality.

Tomatoes and Cucumbers are looking great. Roma, Salad and Heirloom all available and are super sweet. Lebanese Cucumbers are exceptionally good. Fantastic white heads of Cauliflower and brilliant Broccoli are in great supply Green Beans supply is brilliant, the quality is on the up and up. Green Peas, Sugar Snap Peas, Snow Peas and Snake Beans are just brimming with freshness and summer flavour. Locally picked and bursting with great colour.

Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries and Strawberries are looking great both in size and colour and are definitely getting sweeter, especially out of Victoria. Mangoes, Kensington Pride, Calypso and R2E2 are in great supply, prices are a little more relaxed now, though we haven’t seen the traditional price drop that we have been expecting. A good supply of Stone fruit peppers the market floor, Plums, Apricots, Queen Peaches are all just bursting with flavour. Both White and Yellow fleshed Peaches are available.

The Donut Peach has also made its first appearance this week and is sensational both in looks and flavour. Remember to get on board quick as the season is quite short. Rockmelons are sweet and firm and the Pineapples are dripping with Queensland sunshine.

Aussie Grapes are in and in good supply. Flame grapes, a red seedless variety and Menindee, seedless green grapes are the ones to look out for both crisp and sweet. Prices are firm and will remain that way for some time. Golden Granadilla are currently available, a sweet white fleshed Passionfruit, sweet and low acidity.

Picks of the Month

Corn

New season corn is now available and is mint condition. Plump golden kernels bursting with summer time.

Heirloom Carrots

A fantastic array of red, yellow and orange varieties. Team them up with some baby White Turnips and Golden Beetroot to make a stunning Christmas roast.

Apricots

Full flavoured and large fruit is now available and should be taken advantage of as the apricot season will be short. The growers have informed us that a lot of the fruit did not set on the tree and many were lost during the recent high temperatures and strong winds. Trevatts Apricot variety have hit the market this week, sweet firm fruit enjoyed green and ripened.

Beans, Snake Beans, Flat Italian Beans

Peak condition, crisp and tonnes of flavour.

Asparagus

Local produce at its peak right now. Clean, crisp and flavoursome spears are available in a variety of sizes.

Peaches, White and Yellow flesh

North coast fruit is arriving and supply will increase weekly. Fruit is still firm but will ripen beautifully.

Northern Territory Mangoes

Various sizes available. Beautiful aroma with a golden sweet flesh.

Radish Varieties

Regular, Watermelon, white skinned with a pinkish centre, French, elongated red coloured radish with a white tip, are at their peak right now and should take pride of place on your menus.

Blueberries

A great superfood and well-priced, this one goes into my baked ricotta and mascarpone cheesecake.

Strawberries

Driscolls Majestic is an awesome sight to behold, a super large full flavoured strawberry that would love a dip in your favourite Couverture.

Aussie Grapes

Flame seedless are coming out of Mildura and the green seedless Menindee are sourced from Emerald. Both are a stunning way to get right into summer.

Dragon Fruit

Both Red and White flesh fruit is available for that luxury look on the next fruit platter.