Prices prompt caution

Press, 24 December 1985, Page 11

Prices prompt caution

Last-minute Christmas shoppers should be wary of prices today. Prices surveyed yesterday revealed large variations between different shops and supermarkets, especially for lettuces, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, grapes and mushrooms. The prices varied due to quality, and because of increases in prices at the market yesterday morning. Shoppers intent on strawberries for Christmas pudding could pay from 89 cents to $2.69 a punnet Strawberries were $23 a tray at the market yesterday compared to about $9 a tray last week.

A market spokesperson, Miss Sue Turner, said most vegetable prices rose yesterday because of the high demand. Tomatoes and lettuces doubled in price, with tomatoes selling for $11.90 a 4.5 kg box, and lettuces for $7 a case.

Spring carrots were very popular and sold from $3 to $5 a case. Spring beetroot was also popular, and rose in price to . $8.50 a case.

Celery almost doubled in price, as did silver beet, which was up to $lB a case. These were m limited quantity. Peas were still short because of the cooler weather. They were selling from $lO to $33 a case.

Shops should have plenty of new potatoes in stock today as the market’s supply sold well yesterday. No

old potatoes were available. New season squash from Richmond sold for $l5 a bag while new season onions were between $lO and $l2 a bag. Mushrooms rose a little in price up to $26.40 a case, and kumara was plentiful. It sold for about $26 a case. The first trays of blueberries arrived yesterday and they sold for about $23 a tray. While other fruit and vegetables increased in price at the market, stonefruit was cheaper yesterday. Large quantities ol it were available. Cherries were plentiful and Christmas packs sold from $4 to $7 a case. Pawpaws, pineapples, mangoes, babacos, water melons, rock melons, grapes, and bananas were all available. Californian grapefruit and Californian oranges were also sold. Today’s recipes PAWPAW SORBET 1 ripe pawpaw Juice of 1 lemon 1 egg white 2 tablespoons of castor sugar Method: Blend the pieces of pawpaw flesh until smooth. Combine with lemon juice and pour into a chilled container. When just starting to freeze, whisk the egg white stiffly, and beat in the sugar. Place the chilled pawpaw into a chilled bowl and beat until smooth. Fold in the mer-

ingue mixture, and replace in freezer until firm. AMEROSIA Peaches, apricots, nectarines, pawpaws — any

frw't will be suitable for this recipe. It is ideal for leftover fresh fruit salad. Place a layer of fresh fruit salad in a disk

Cover this with a layer of marshmallows, then a layer of sour cream. Sprinkle with ’ brown 'sugar and grill.