Strawberry prices falling

Press, 26 November 1982, Page 2

Strawberry prices falling

William Butler once said of strawberries: “Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did.”

The strawberry is probably the most highly esteemed of all soft fruit. Not only do strawberries have that delectable flavour, but their decorative qualities are many. Strawberries add that extra touch to fruit punch, pavlova, gateaux and fruit salad. The warm weather in Christchurch has brought the strawberry season forward about three weeks. Prices are falling, and quality high. A 12-punnet tray of strawberries fetched $ll to $l5 in

this week's market. Most supplies were local. Good supplies of another treasured fruit, cherries, were on the market this week, from Blenheim. Prices were $3 to $6 for a 2kg carton. Citrus fruit were scarce, tangelos fetching $2O a

bushel and goldfruit $l7 a bushel. Some Swaziland oranges were available and New Zealand lemons were well supplied, selling at $8 to $l3 a bushel. Tamarillos went for $4O a half-case, and kiwifruit to $33 a half-case. The few avocados offered sold for $35 a tray. Island fruit was plentiful earlier this week: pawpaws from Fiji on Wednesday, and mangoes and rock melons on Tuesday. Babacos are becoming more popular; supplies are from the North Island. Tomatoes were in good supply, fetching $6 to $8.50 a

case. Lettuces were in demand. for $4 to $lO a case, and cucumbers rose to $1 for shorts, and up to $1.20 for telegraphs. Courgettes sold at $2 to $3 a kilogram. Green beans have arrived, realising $lB for a 3kg carton, and broad beans fetched $2 to $4 a case.

New season’s beetroot is available at up to $8 for 12 bundles, and there are good supplies of spring onions and radishes. New season’s silver beet is in demand.

This week’s recipe

MOCK ZABAGLIONE 1 punnet strawberries Vi cup icing sugar

2 tablespoons sweet sherry 2 cups eream 1 teaspoon vanilla

sugar Method: Slice the strawberries in half, sprinkle with a little sugar and place in refrigerator for half an hour. Whip cream, icing sugar, and vanilla until soft peaks form and stir in the sherry. Fold in strawberries and freeze in a loaf tin for about 45 minutes until chilled but not frozen hard. Spoon into serving dishes and top with a few whole strawberries.