Fruit and vegetables warm weather brings demand for salads

Press, 24 April 1980, Page 2

Fruit and vegetables warm weather brings demand for salads

Winter vegetables were plentiful in Christchurch this week, although the spell of warm weather pushed up demand for salad vegetables.

Good 'quality cauliflowers were plentiful, and prices dropped slightly on last week. Bags of about eight cauliflowers ranged from $1 to $3 in the markets. Brussels sprouts, which were still of excellent quality, were abundant and fetched from $2 to $5.10 a bag. Drum head, savoy, and red cabbages were all available. Red cabbages sold for $1.50 to $2.50 a bag of about eight. The markets were well supplied with silver beet, spinach, broccoli, and beetroot Carrots were not as plentiful as .they have been, and prices increased slightly. Carrots sold to $3.50 a bag of approximately 18kg. Prices have been fairly low recently and some growers have turned to other vegetables. The end of the courgette season is near, and prices rose dramatically this week. However, they were still in very good condition. Prices ranged from $l2 to $l4 a halfcase, and in one market they reached $14.60, compared with $ll two weeks ago.

Southland swedes were plentiful and will improve in quality with colder weather. Southland swedes will reach their peak between May and July. Local swedes were also available.

Good quality crown pumpkins were still in demand this week.

The markets were fully supplied with potatoes, and the prices on some lines fell slightly during the week. Ham Hardy potatoes fetched $2.50 to $3 a 20kg bag, while Chippewa potatoes sold from $4 to $4.50.

The warm weather increased the demand for salad vegetables. The best lettuces were sold for $7.10 a case, a fairly high price. Spring onions and radishes were also in demand. Tomatoes were also popular and the prices were pushed up to $7.40 and $7.80 a 4.5 kg bag. Some outdoor tomatoes were still in the markets and fetched about $4 a half-case. Mushrooms were in good

demand. With extra supplies being sent to the North Island, mushrooms were not as plentiful as usual and the price went from $7.10 to $9 a tray. The price is expected to fall back slightly, as supplies improve again. Both Golden Queen peaches, which were freely available, and nectarines, which are nearing the end of their season, sold from $2 to $4 a case. In one market nectarines fetched to $5,20. Blue Boy peaches sold to $4 a tray., Tamarillos, selling from $l2 to $l6 a half-case, were popular. Feijoas fetched to $lO a case, and in one market, went to $8 a half-case. Californian grapefruit was available and a shipment of oranges was due yesterday. The market was well supplied with bananas, which have increased from 98c to $1.05 a kg or $13.40 a case. A shipment of Island bananas is expected at the week-end.

Most varieties of apples are plentiful and selling for reasonable prices. Celery is available at reasonable prices in most shops at the moment. Useful in salads or soups, it also makes an interesting vegetable by itself. For the weight conscious it has the advantage of having little more than 50 calories per 500 g. HERBED CELERY, 6 large stalks of celery boiling water | teaspoon salt 25g butter 1 teaspoon lemon juice Salt and pepper

2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh marjoram

METHOD: Wash the celery well, remove the leaves and trim off the root ends. Cut the stalks into thick slices crosswise. Put celery into a saucepan with the first measure of salt and just enough boiling water to cover the celery. Return to the boil and lower the heat. Cover and. boil gently for about 10 minutes or until just tender. Remove from the heat and drain well. Add the melted butter and lemon juice. Toss well and season to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with the marjoram. Serves about six