Fruit and vegetables Warm weather boost for good-quality sweetcorn

Press, 26 February 1982, Page 2

Fruit and vegetables

Warm weather boost for good-quality sweetcorn

Good-quality sweetcorn, brought on by the warm weather was plentiful, at the Christchurch produce market this week. Prices were between 9c. and 15c a cob. which w’as at least 5c lower than last ■'week. Stocks in the shops were al between 20c and 27c a cob. Winter-type vegetables such as pumpkin, cauliflowers, and cabbage were all plentiful, and there was a keen demand. A. The pumpkins — buttercup, butternut, and red — were all plentiful, and fetched between $9 and $ll a I bag at the market. In the I. shops, prices varied, but good ! pumpkins could be bought i for less than $1 each. Spring | onions, radishes, brussels I sprouts (from Oamaru). and, [ especially silver beet, were plentiful.’ There were healthy looking bunches of silver beet in most shops this week. The cabbages were fetching about $3 a bag, and between 10c and 45c a head, depending on variety, at the market. Cauliflower prices eased slightly, because there were more available. The prices moved between $2 and $4.50 a bag. The top price for cases of lettuce moved down from. $6.50 reported last i week, to $3.50. although the i quality remained excellent. I Supplies have improved.

Carrots were scarcer this week, buyers paying between $6 and $13.50 a'case. Locally grown onions are now. starting to come forward. and there were good stocks in most shops. New onions were fetching about $4 to $6 a bag at the market. Bottling fruits were still available. Peaches were fetching $3 to $4 a case, nectarines $6 to $8 a case, and apricots, of varying quality, between $4 and $ll a case. Avocados were firm in price at $39 to $5O a tray, or to $2 each. Nelson and Motueka water and rock melons were in good quantities, at

about 60c a kilogram, or $1 each. Strawberries, blackberries, and other such fruit were hard to find in shops. Trays of strawberries sold at the markets to $l2 each. Coconuts were seen from 69c each, and passioniruil at 29c each. The shop prices of tomatoes eased by about 30c a kilogram this week. This week’s recipe WASHINGTON PIE 2 cups fresh corn kernels 2 cups sliced tomatoes

Li cup chopped onion ‘4 cup chopped green pepper *4 cup chopped celery 3 tablespoons melted butter 1 tablespoon Worcester sauce 1 teaspoon salt '•j cup fresh breadcrumbs 2 eggs 3 tablespoons cream Cereal crumbs Grated cheese paprika Method: Mix corn with ■tomatoes, onion, pepper, celery, and stir in the melted butter. Add Worcester sauce, salt, and breadcrumbs. Beat the eggs and cream, then add. Pour into a greased ovenproof dish, and sprinkle with crushed cereal crumbs, grated cheese, and paprika. Place the dish in a pan of hot water and bake at 180 degrees C for 30 to 40 minutes. Serves six. Serving ideas: The cob should be cooked quickly. Where kernels are wanted, they can be cut from the cob either raw or cooked. A sharp knife is required and the husk should be scraped to remove the juicy parts'of the kernels that remain. Cobs can also be cut into rounds and cooked in stews and casseroles. Storage: Refrigerate in sealed container or bag for short period only — about two days.