Fruit and vegetables Wet weather causes rice in root crop rpices

Press, 30 September 1983, Page 2

Fruit and vegetables Wet weather causes rice in root crop rpices

Wet weather affected some vegetables this week but generally the Christchurch produce markets were well supplied. Root crops suffered the most and so prices were slightly dearer because of a temporary shortage. Local carrots fetched between $l2 and $3O a bag but any shortages were supplemented by the first of the

season’s North Island supplies which sold up to $3O. Parsnips were also scarce and fetched between $l2 and $2O a bag.

Cauliflowers stood up well to the weather with excellent supplies being available near the end of the week. Prices dropped slightly to $3 to $8 a bag. Broccoli was plentiful and prices varied from $8 to $2O a case. Pumpkin was also plentiful and prices also cheaper than last week at $l2 to $2O a bag. Good supplies of North Island kumara were available at $2O to $3O a bushel, and spring onions and radishes at $4 to $5 a dozen. Excellent supplies of lettuces fetched $2.50 to $ll a case and hot-house variety was available for up to $2 each.

Silverbeet was more plentiful than earlier in the week, selling at $3 to $l9 a case, as were leeks, at $4 to $l2 a case.

Pukekohe potatoes were cheap at $l5 to $16.50 a bag. Other varieties were plenti-

ful, including Ham Hardy, at $3 to $4 a bag, Rua, at $4.50 to $5 a bag, and Chippewa to $7. A good selection of fruit is available, including citrus fruits, grapes, avocadoes, eggplants, strawberries, and tamarillos. The New Zealand citrus fruits are still plentiful, with oranges $lO to $l6 a bushel, lemons to $l5, and goldfruit $8 to $lO a bushel. Tangeloes fetched $lO to $lB a bushel, and mandarins were to $l2 a bushel.

Kiwifruit is still plentiful and selling at $l3 to $l4 a half-case and good supplies of eggplants are coming forward at $3 to $4 a kilogram.

Avocadoes are available at $25 a tray, as are strawberries to $5 a punnet. A new shipment of bananas is due to arrive in Christchurch today and these should be in shops by Tuesday. Bananas sell at a fixed retail price of $1.51, unless offered cheaper at sale prices.

Local tomatoes were

available at $2O to $2l a 4.5 kg case and Auckland tomatoes were $27 to $31.50 for a 7kg case. Californian grapes were available for $3B a lug (about 10kg). -Today’s recipe CAULIFLOWER SOUP 5 cups milk , 1 large cauliflower 1 onion 1 cup chicken stock 2 tblspn cream % cup grated cheese salt and pepper Method: Heat the milk gently in a large saucepan. Chop onion roughly. Cut the cauliflower into pieces, put into the milk, add the chicken stock and seasonings and cook for 30 to 40 minutes until the cauliflower is tender. Cool. Pour the soup into the blender and liquefy for one or two minutes or put through a food mill. Pour back into the sausepan and reheat. Add cream just before serving and garnish with grated cheese. Serves six.