Good supplies of green vegetables meet steady inquiry

Press, 25 May 1984, Page 2

Good supplies of green vegetables meet steady inquiry

Winter fare was plentiful at Christchurch produce markets yesterday in spite of the cold snap earlier in the week. Shortages in some North Island lines were apparent, however, but these were because of railway disputes. Good supplies of all green vegetables were available, including quality brussels sprouts from Oamaru. They fetched $6 to $7.50 for a bag about 6kg. Good-sized drumhead cabbages were plentiful and reasonablj' priced at $1 to $2 a bag, as was broccoli, at ?4 to $l2 a case. Cauliflower was available in good quantities but quality varied. It was priced accordingly at $3 to $7.10 a bag.

Courgette prices are likely to rise slightly soon as the local growing season has almost ended. Supplies are now mainly from the North Island and priced at ?15 to $2B a half-case, or about 7kg. Lettuces from Oamaru were slightly cheaper this week at $1.50 to $4 a case. Whitloof is becoming more available as are yams. They J fetched $2O to $22 a skg

carton, and $4.50 to $l2 a case respectively. Good supplies of Southland swedes were available at $3 to $4 a bag, as were Crown pumpkin, at $1.50 to $4 a bag. Buttercups were also reasonable and quite cheap at $1 to $2.50 a bag. Butternuts were cheap but the quality was not really up to standard. They sold for $3 to $6 a bag. Potatoes were plentiful at the markets and quality matched quantity. Ham Hardy sold from $1 to $1.50 a bag, while Rua fetched $2 to $2.50 a bag, and Chippewa, $2 to $5 a bag. Onions were still well priced at $ll to $l4, but good pickling onions were scarce and priced accordingly. Plenty of spring onions, radishes, silverbeet, spinach, and carrots were available and prices were stable.

The kiwifruit season seems to be in full swing now, with good supplies priced reasonably cheaply. They sold for 80c to $1 a kg and offered at one supermarket chain yesterday for 99c a kg. Mandarins and passionfrpit were not so plentiful, but supplies of both fruit have been affected by the railway disputes. The mandarins’ mainly from Tau-

ranga and Kerikeri, fetched between $25 to $3O a bushel,while passionfruit sold from $lO to $ll a quarter-case. Tomato prices firmed during the week and yesterday were available at $11.20 for a 4.5 kg carton. A fresh shipment of Phillipine bananas was released at the markets yesterday and should be on shop shelves today. Bananas sell at a controlled retail price of $1.58 a kg. Increased prices in freight and transport forced the cost of the fruit up from $1.51 about

three weeks ago. A shipment of oranges and grapefruits is expected to arrive at Lyttelton today and should be ready for the markets on Monday. Today’s recipe Brussels Sprouts and Mushrooms 500 g prepared brussels sprouts. 3 tbspns butter 2 shallots or one small onion 150 g mushrooms 2 tblspns lemon juice salt to taste

freshly ground black pepper Method: Cook the sprouts in a little boiling, salted water until just tender. While the sprouts are cooking melt the butter in a medium-sized frying pan. Saute the peeled and finely chopped shallots or onion until soft. Add the washed and sliced mushrooms. Cook gently until the mushrooms are tender. Add the lemon juice. Drain the sprouts and add to the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Heat through carefully and serve immediately.