EASY GUIDE TO WHAT'S IN SEASON
This week our produce of the week is snow peas, from Bundaberg, QLD. Snow peas are a variety of pea that is picked early while its pod is still flat and tender. Snow peas are bright, green, sweet and tender, with a pleasing bite. Unlike regular peas, snow peas can be eaten pod and all. Snow peas can be boiled, simmered or even sautéed in olive oil with other vegetables to give the dish a nice, crispy texture. Once snow peas make contact with heat, they lose their crispness quickly so add at the last minute to any cooked dishes so that they maintain their pleasing bite. Choose firm and blemish-free snow peas. Keep refrigerated.
FRUIT
On the citrus front, Imperial Mandarins are finishing up, we should have another week or so depending on the eating quality. Red flesh Cara Cara navel oranges are eating exceptionally well, as are the organic navel oranges. The organic navels are also a great price at the moment. Tangelos and new season blood oranges are also in store and online.
Don't forget pineapples are also good for those suffering with colds.
Queensland strawberries are great at the moment, we have Bernies's 250gram punnets, Tina's 375 gram trays, 500gram value packs and organic strawberries. The 500gram punnets are seconds, the are a little rough, but stil taste great. The organic strawberries are in short supply and the result is that they are expensive.
There are plenty of apples around at the moment and every apple is new season. Our pears are also fantastic at the moment. We also have Buerre Bosc pears. Local, seasonal pomegranates are still available.
The first of the Northern Australian mangoes appeared in the market this morning, and the quality was surprisingly good for the first of the season. They are dear but I will get some in.
Hass avocados from Bundaberg are eating nicely, but the market has risen slightly.
Local Thompson green seedless grapes and crimson grapes have finished.
Blueberries are coming back in price as more growers pick more fruit from Northern NSW.
Tomatoes have finally reduced in price including organic tomatoes and cherry tomatoes which are on special this week.
VEGETABLES
Our broccoli, broccolini and cauliflower are great value this week. The organic ones are in shorter supply, leading to higher prices.
Radicchio is also great at the moment, including the wonderfully coloured castlefranco radicchio.
Conventional beans have eased in price and the organic beans are in short supply so we are stocking both again.
On the salad front, most leafy veg are in shortish supply.
Organic carrots are in shortish supply, but we are getting enough
Our potatoes are exceptional at the moment, and we are stocking a great range including washed, cocktail, desiree, dutch cream, kipfler, royal blue, sebago as well as organic kestrel. We have both organic and conventional sweet potatoes available and we are also stocking mini sweet potatoes which are perfect for roasting.
Our herb bunches continue to be fresh and abundant and this week, packed full of flavour but the bunches are smaller. We have purple garlic from Tasmania and also have organic garlic available.