Fresh fruit abundant

Press, 11 December 1981, Page 2

Fresh fruit abundant

This season’s fruit, most of it from Hawke’s Bay, is now on the market.

It sold well yesterday at Christchurch produce markets as people sought a change from the winter fruit staples — apples, bananas, and oranges.

Christmas plums of good quality sold for $lO to $l2 a case. Apricots, peaches, and nectarines were also available but were limited and so the prices were high. As the season progresses, the prices will ease.

Blenheim cherries, of excellent quality, were plentiful. Cases fetched between $4.50 and $l5.

Locally grown strawberries still dominate the berry market at between $6 and $10.20 a tray but blackberries and raspberries are beginning to appear. Kiwifruit, lemons, and avocados have increased in price because they are scarce. It is the end of the kiwifruit season.

Imported pawpaws, bananas, and watermelons are also on the market. Pawpaws fetched between $l6 and $2B a carton.

Fresh bananas should appear on shop shelves on Wednesday. The arrival of a new Ecuadorean shipment at Auckland has been delayed until Monday because rain prevented unloading, but

existing stocks should last until the bananas are released in Christchurch. Tangelos are still in good supply and relatively cheap at $8 to $l3 a bag. Mushroom growers are trying to persuade people to use the raw vegetable in salads. Mushrooms do not sell readily at this time of year although they are plentiful. Prices were quite low last week but rose slightly to

between $7 and $lO a tray yesterday. New season garlic from Blenheim and Pukekohe was available at $8 to $l2 a tray. First-of-the-season fresh peas sold well at $3.50 to $l2 a case. Green beans were scarce at the start of their season but the less popular broad beans were plentiful at $1 to $3 a case. Markets are fully supplied with lettuces and cauli-

flowers. Prices for the mainly local lettuces dropped slightly this week to between $1.20 and $2.40 a case yesterday. Tomatoes were in demand at $5 to $6.50 for a 4.5 kg carton. Celery prices have also fallen with more local and North Island celery selling to ease the previous shortage. Cases of lettuce fetched $3 to $l4 according to size and quality. Onions are slightly cheaper with increased supplies and lower demand. Red onions were a popular vegetable for salads at $l.BO to $4 a carton. Local and Oamaru spring jarrots were plentiful and popular at $4 to $8 a case. This week’s recipe. TANGELO SORBET 175 g (% cup) sugar 400 ml water 250 ml Tangelo juice 2 egg whites Method: Dissolve sugar in water over a low heat, then bring to the boil and boil for 10 minutes. Cool. Mix in the tangelo juice, pour into a container, cover and freeze until semi-solid and mushy. Whip egg whites until stiff. Beat the tangelo ice until evenly mixed, then fold in the egg whites. Refreeze until firm. To serve, scoop the sorbet into parfait glasses and decorate with fresh fruit.