Fruit and vegetables Supplies of oranges likely to get boost

Press, 28 March 1980, Page 2

Fruit and vegetables Supplies of oranges likely to get boost

Oranges are scarce in Christchurch retail outlets at present. A shipment of Australian valencias and some navel oranges is due in the markets, hopefully before Easter. However, tangerines are retailing well. Regular shipments of Queensland pineapples are coming into the markets and are selling well. Island bananas which arrived on Monday in good condition, were auctioned on Wednesday and also yesterday. Ecuadorean bananas are still available. A new shipment is due at Lyttelton on Monday.

Watermelons and taro also arrived on Monday. Cannonball melons are selling from 30c to 45c a kg. Supplies of stone fruit are decreasing as it nears the end of the season. Apricots have finished, although supplies are still available in most retail stores. The last of this season’s nectarines were in the markets this week. They sold for about $6 a case. Yesterday Golden Queen peaches sold for $3.50 to $5.50 a case.

Plums, mainly Omega and a few late Shiros, sold for $4 to $8 a half-case. Supplies have just about finished.

Good-quality, second-crop strawberries are plentiful and reasonably priced at 45c to 83c a punnet. At this price they are a luxury that everyone can enjoy.

On the vegetable scene carrots, cabbage, . parsnip, swede, and silver beet were all in good supply and sold wfell yesterday. Good quality cauliflower.were in demand, prices ranging from $2.80 to $5.80 a bag. Spinach and-broccoli were plentiful; Broccoli sold for

$2 to $3 a half-case yesterday. Good supplies of pumpkin are coming into the markets. Yesterday red pumpkin sold for $1.50 to $3 a bag. Crown pumpkin realised $3 to $5.50. Nelson butternuts are plentiful. Brussels sprouts have come into the markets early

this year. They are reasonably priced at $4 to $7.60 a bag. Kumaras have dropped in price as more appear in the markets. These sold for $l5 to $25 a carton yesterday. Onions are still in full supply at $2.30 to $3.50 a sack. Pickling onions are not so plentiful, and prices have jumped to $5 a bag. Good courgettes have firmed in price to $8 a halfcase yesterday. Lettuces, spring-onions, and radishes are still well supplied. This week’s recipe : STRAWBERRY TORTONI, ■l5O ml cream 1 egg white 80g crushed meringues

80g sugar . 250 g strawberries 1 measure sherry Method: Whip the cream and sugar together, then fold in the stiffly beaten egg white. Add three-quarters of the meringue and the sherry slowly. Place the mixture in individual serving dishes, sprinkle each with the remaining meringue, and decorate with the prepared strawberries. Set in refrigerator.