Traditional winter lines plentiful, reasonable

Press, 15 August 1980, Page 2

Traditional winter lines plentiful, reasonable

If was a very ordinary winter scene at the Christchurch produce markets yesterday morning. The traditional, main, winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, potatoes, onions, and swedes were plentiful and prices reasonable.

i .Parsnips sold to $4 a bag of 15kg to 18kg; s carrots to $2.50 a bag of about 20kg; and Southland swedes to $3 a bag of between 18kg and 20kg. A few early-season potatoes from Pukekohe -were available for up. to $12.60 a bag of 20 kg to 23kg. Old, local potatoes .fetched from $l.BO for the cheapest Ham Hardies to $4 for the best Chippewas. As some produce lines dwindle locally, reliance is shifting to other parts of New Zealand to keep the markets stocked. Besides new potatoes from Pukekohe, spring vegetables are coming in from Gore Bay and Nelson.

Local pumpkins, buttercup and butternut stocks are diminishing, but stored supplies are still available. Broccoli and brussels sprouts were in only moder-, ate supply but demand was faily good. Broccoli fetched from $3 to $9.70 a half-case and brussels sprouts sold from $8 to $lO.lO a bag of

about 7kg. Prices are expected to remain about this level for a while.

Green vegetables, such as cauliflowers and cabbages, are in moderate supply, but the demand is strong. Prices are expected to be steady for some time. •

Salad vegetables were in moderate supply yesterday morning. Lettuce prices were high, 'outdoor supplies fetching $lO to $12.50 a box of six to 12, compared with between $2 and $2.50 during the flush of their season. Glasshouse lettuces fetched to $1.50 each.

Celery prices are quietly increasing as local supplies lessen, and Christchurch is expected to become dependent on North Island consigrments before long. Boxes of cucumbers (usually six) sold from $9 to $l2, depending on size. The

top retail price found this morning was $2.60 for one cucumber.

Tomato prices continued high at $l7 to $2O a 7kg carton from Auckland. Not many local tomatoes were available.

Citrus fruit supplies are lessening, but demand is still strong, especially for tarriarillos, whose prices rose to between $l3 to $l6 a halfcase yesterday morning. A lot of the mandarins available were rather small as the fruit is nearing the end of its season. Prices moved up quietly, the cheapest in half-cases fetching from $7 and the best to $l3. Australian navel oranges were plentiful, but their season also is drawing to an end. New Zealand navels have been available this week for similar wholesale prices, but the quality was

mixed. Only export grades have come from Australia.

The last shipment of Ecuadorean bananas sold out at the markets and the next is not due in until August 22. It should be released the following Tuesday. Retail shops are mostly well stocked at the moment and supplies may last. Importers had planned Ecuadorean shipments to fit in with those from the Islands, but Island supplies have not been as heavy as expected leaving Christchurch a bit short. The shipment. after the next one from Ecuador will . come from the Philippines; it will be the first direct shipment from there to Lyttelton. This week’s recipe WINE-GLAZED CARROTS 500 g carrots i cup dry white wine 1 tablespoon butter Chopped parsley.

Method: Peel carrots and cut into long, thin strips. Cook in boiling salted water for about 4 minutes so the carrots are still crisp. Drain, add butter and shake the saucepan over the heat un£il the butter is melted. Add wine and simmer until evaporated and carrots are tender. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.