Home growers may have slowed markets

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 4

Home growers may have slowed markets

Christchurch markets were not as busy yesterday as they have been in recent weeks.

Potato prices dropped dramatically, the popular Maris Anchor variety down to $2 a 10kg. Ham Hardies sold for up to $l.BO a 10kg, or up to $4 for a 20kg bag. Many home garden crops are now being harvested, which could account for the drop in market prices. Last season’s crown pumpkins are still flavoursome and seemed popular, fetching up to $4O a bag. The new season’s green buttercup fetched up to $l2 a small bag. Yellow and red squash is also now available. Red squash sold for up to $35 a bag.

Kumara and the Toko Gold sweet potatoes proved popular and fetched high prices. Both sold for up to $5O a case.

Corn from Nelson, which made its first appearance last week, continued to sell

well, fetching up to $2B a case. Corn on the cob fetched between 30c and 35c.

District supplies of com are expected to become available soon.

After a downturn in price earlier in the week, courgettes are now more readily available. The prices picked up yesterday, with courgettes selling for up to $l2 a half case.

Silver beet also dropped in price this week and was selling for between $3 and $9 a case. Spinach, although more plentiful this week, seemed slower to sell, fetching only $lO a case.

An oversupply of cheap red onions means now is the ideal time to buy. Red onions are delicious when served with sliced tomatoes and or a dash of vinegar. Now is also an ideal time for freezing beans as they are cheap and in good sup-

ply. At the market yesterday they sold for up to $8 a half case. Tomatoes remained firm in price, selling for up to $l3 a 4.5 kg case. Buyers seemed cautious to pay for broccoli, as the vegetable does not keep a long time in hot weather. It is of excellent quality however, and was selling for between $6 and $l2 a case. Marrows were in demand, selling for up to $lO a case. The first of the season’s leeks were also popular, selling for up to $9 a case. Red cabbage has started to be supplied again and was selling for up to $6 a bag. Drumhead cabbages sold for up to $4 a bag. Cauliflowers were selling for up to $12.80 a bag. American red delicious are still in supply. The first of the New Zealand Scarlet Pimpernel apples were auctioned at an average price of about $8 a crate. Roxborough Red apricots

are in plentiful supply, and suitable for jam-making. Jam apricots were selling for between $7 and $9 a crate. A larger variety of apricot, Moreparks, were popular for their flavour and texture, and sold for up to $l7 a case. Dessert peaches, such as Red Blush, Springcrest and June Lady are still in plentiful supply. June Lady is a new variety of peach. Dixie Reds are also still available. Bottling peaches such as Redhaven sold for between $6 and $8 a case. Plums were in abundant supply, including two new varieties, Burbank (an excellent sweet-tasting line) and Billingtons (suitable for jams and sauces). Depending on the varieties, plums sold for between $2 and $12.50 a case. Cherry lovers will have to be in quick, as the fruit is coming to the end of its season. Varieties still available included St Margaret (a dark red cherry) and the black Dawson. Stone fruit in general has appeared at the markets earlier than usual because of the unseasonably warm weather in central Otago, where much of the fruit is grown. An abundant supply of stone fruit is also expected next week. Berryfruit is starting to be less well supplied, as most of the fruit tends to have its first peak growing period before Christmas. Strawberries were selling for between $9 and $lB a tray, depending on quality. Raspberries sold for between $l2 and $l6 a tray. Blueberries, which have been especially popular this year, sold for up to $12.20 a tray. Australian citrus such as oranges, grapefruit, . and lemons continued to be supplied to make up for the New Zealand shortfall. Australian pineapples were auctioned on Tuesday at about $44 a case. Consignments of Cook Island pineapple and Rarotongan papaw are expected to arrive soon. Red Cardinal grapes from Australia are also expected to arrive next week. This week supplies of good quality Ecuador limes arrived at the markets. Today's recipes Fried Bananas 6 bananas 1 egg Half a cup breadcrumbs Half tsp salt. Method: Dip bananas into slightly beaten egg and salt, roll in breadcrumbs. Deep fry in hot oil or fat until brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot with icecream. ICED BANANA 6 ripe bananas 4 tbspn sugar Half cup whipped cream Half cup custard using egg yolks 2 egg whites Juice of one orange and half a lemon Method: Mash bananas with sugar. Mix it with cream and cold custard. Fold it into the stiffly beaten egg white. Spoon into ice trays and allow to freeze. Use as icecream.