Broccoli a popular item in many Christchurch meals

Press, 31 August 1984, Page 2

Broccoli a popular item in many Christchurch meals

The popularity of broccoli seems apparent from the impact it is making on Christchurch produce markets.

A market spokesman said yesterday that growers, particularly those at Oamaru, had increased their supplies to cater for the growing demand.

Plentiful supplies from Oamaru, Blenheim, and Canterbury ■ were available yesterday. The quality was excellent and the prices reasonable at $2.50 to $5.50 a half-case. The first of the Waikato asparagus arrived this week, supplementing other supplies. The prices were still high at $4B to $5O a case of about 7kg, but are likely to ease next week as supplies increase. Red and Drumhead cabbages were plentiful, selling to $4.60 a case and $2 to $4 a bag. Local and Nelson celery came forward in greater quantity although the prices firmed to $11.50 a case. A slight shortage of cauliflowers this week meant that a bag of about eight reached a top price of $9.50. Carrots were plentiful at $2 to $6.20 a bag, as were parsnips, at $2 to $7 a bag, and North Island kumara at $l2 to $l4 a carton.

Lettuces from Nelson were in demand and fetched $9.50 a case, while good supplies of hothouse lettuces were available to $1.50 each. Oamaru lettuces were also popular at $4 to $6 a case.

Good crown pumpkins were still available at $2.50 to $4 a bag, and butternuts, nearing the end of their

season, sold for $7 a bag. Cucumbers were still scarce with telegraphs fetching to $l5 a case, and shorts $l3 to $l5 a case. Onions were plentiful and reasonably priced at $8 to $l3 a bag, as were potatoes at 60c to $2.50 a 20kg bag. Pukekohe new potatoes were available at $21.50 a bag. Silverbeet, spinach, spring onions, radishes, whitloof, and yams were also plentiful at the markets this week. Fuerte avocados . were plentiful and sold for $22 to

$2B a tray of up to 24 fruit. Good supplies of tamarillos came forward this week, fetching $l2 to $lB a halfcase.

A good range of citrus fruit was available,, including goldfruit, New Zealand and imported oranges, tangelos, and mandarins. Lemons were also available but were scarce for most of the week.

A shipment of Tongan produce, including pawpaws, taro, coconuts, and watermelons, is expected in Christchurch on Monday.

Today’s recipe BROCCOLI WITH TUNA SAUCE 550 g broccoli 30g butter 1 small onion grated 2 tbsp flour 425 g can of tuna, drained I’Ac tuna liquid combined with milk Salt and pepper Lemon juice %c grated cheese Paprika Method: Cook broccoli in boiling salted water until just tender. Drain and place in greased, heatproof dish. Melt butter in a saucepan and fry onion gently for three minutes, remove from heat. Stir in flour and blend in liquid. Return to heat and stir while bringing to the boil. Add lightly flaked tuna to sauce and simmer for two minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Pour sauce over broccoli. Top with grated cheese and grill until cheese melts. Dust with paprika and serve hot. Serves three.