Plenty of produce in spite of fuel problems

Press, 28 November 1980, Page 2

Plenty of produce in spite of fuel problems

The fuel shortage did not seem to affect ‘sales yesterday at produce markets.' J. ' : The usual number of- carrier vans and trucks loaded with vegetables and fruits arrived, and attendance was good. .. Cabbages were plentiful and up to $7 was paid for a bag of bright to 10 drumheads, and spring cabbages fetched $1.50 and more a bag. Lettuces sold for $1 to $1.20 for a case of about eight. Cases of local celery, containing six to 11 bunches, sold between $3 to $5. North Island celery fetched between $12.80 and $16.20. Spring onions sold to $6.50 for a case of up to a dozen bundles. Courgettes are now more plentiful, prices easing slightly to range from $l4 to $lB a half-case. An adequate supply of cauliflowers sold from $1.30 to $8 a bag. The vegetable much loved by the French, garlic, sold for $2 to $3 a kilogram. Onions firmed in price to about $l4 a bag. Local potatoes are now more readily available;

tinder, a good demand buyers paid between $3.’50 and $5 a half-case.. Kidney potatoes sold from $4 to $6 a quar-ter-case. Bags of Nelson potatoes fetched to $6.5Q. . On the fruit scene, good supplies of local and Waimate strawberries sold well, prices ranging from 58c to 78c a punnet. They have been available for about a month now and demand seems to be picking up for this favourite summer fruit. Hawke’s Bay plums and peaches arrived on Wednesday. Plums were in demand, selling to $5 to $8 a quar-

ter-case. Peaches will remain a luxury, buyers paying $10.20 to $11.60 a tray. Good supplies of Blenheim cherries fetched to $5 for a 2kg carton. Pawpaws cost between $ll and $l5 a carton, and Australian mangoes sold between $l5 and $lB a carton. A fresh shipment of good quality melons fetched $1 a kilogram. Ecuadorean bananas are now readily available. Apple lovers will he happy to know that a fresh shipment of Washington Red Delicious arrived from the United States on Wednesday.

Grapefruit', that popular breakfast fruit, sold to $lO a case, and tangelos between $lO and $l4 a carton. This week’s receipe STRAWBERRY MOUSSE 500 g strawberries 1 tbspn lemon juice i cup sugar 1 tbsp gelatine 1/8 cup cold water | cup boiling water 2 tbsps brandy or kirsch 1 cup —-am red currar.t cr similar jelly Method: Wash and hull strawberries, reserving the best for decoration. Mash the rest and mix sugar and lemon juice into the puree. Soak gelatine in cold water then dissolve in boiling water. Blend into strawberry mixture. Put aside to cool until just beginning to thicken. Whip lightly to get the mixture frothy, then add brandy. Whip cream until stiff and fold in to strawberry mixture. Pour into serving bowl and leave to set. Before serving, melt the jelly until smooth and brush Over the strawberries reserved for garnishing. Arrange these on the mousse and serve. Serves six people.