Weather keeps prices up

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 15

Weather keeps prices up

Vegetables continued to be expensive at Christchurch markets yesterday, reflecting the effects of adverse weather on the vegetable supply in the last few weeks. Frosts and rain could be expected to go on affecting the volume of produce supplied to the markets over the next two months. Growers in other parts of New Zealand were also the victims of similar weather, said the manager of Market Gardeners, Ltd, Mr Ron Bainbridge.

The growth of green vegetables, in particular, has been affected.

Supplies of produce from Oamaru, Nelson and the North Island, were becoming much more difficult to obtain, he said. Consequently, Australian produce has been stocked to supplement dwindling district supplies.

Cabbages were still in short supply, fetching between $l4 and $20.50 a bag of eight Cauliflowers, also expensive, were fetching between $ll and $21.60 a bag of eight Silver beet was selling for between $l9 and $22 a case at one market and between $lO and $2O a case at another.

Leeks fetched between $lB and $22 a case of a dozen bunches, Lettuces were in demand. Those from Nelson fetched up to $35 a case of 12. Oamaru lettuces fetched between $l3 to $l9 a carton of 10, and glasshouse grown varieties fetched between $3 and $4.50 each. Witloof was well stocked and reasonably priced, and provided a good alternative to cabbages and lettuces.

Stocks of spinach have also been short this week. Limited supplies fetched between $l2 and $2O a case, depending on quality.

Carrots and parsnips were reasonably priced at between $lO and $l6 for a 20kg bag of carrots, and from $8.50 to $11.40 a 10 kg bag of parsnips. Brussels sprouts fetched between $8.30 and $13.50 a 6kg bag. Radishes, spring onions and parsley added a dash of colour to the markets. Radishes and spring onions fetched between $6 and $8 a dozen bunches, and parsley up to $4 a bunch.

The European vegetable, curly kale, was also available again this week. Bean sprouts were in demand this week, fetching up to $4.50 for a 750 g bag.

The demand for Australian produce had been high, reported Macfarlanes and Growers, Ltd. Snow peas had sold especially well, from $13.50 to $l5 a kg. Golden and green scallopinis, in varying sizes, fetched up to $3O a case. Yellow and green Australian courgettes were also stocked, fetching from $35 to $4O a case. Broccoli had been so popular that one market had imported more than three tonnes from Australia already this week to satisfy the consumer demand. Green beans were also popular, fetching $4O and $5B a case, or about $5 to $6 a kg. No district beans are available at the moment

Some aubergines were also stocked, fetching up to $24 a 6 to Bkg box.

Australian cucumbers were also stocked. Short

varieties fetched up to $33 for 30, and telegraph varieties up to $44 for about 30. New Zealand cucumbers fetched $1.50 each.

The New Zealand citrus fruit season is in full swing, with plenty of lemons, grapefruit and mandarins available.

Grapefruit was selling for $8 and $l2 a 15 to 18kg carton, and up to $l4 a bushel case. New Zealand lemons, both Meyer and standard varieties, were fetching up to $l7 a 14 to 18kg carton. Mandarins fetched up to $2 a kg. Kiwifruit was still plentiful, and stocks of North Island fruit are expected to be available next week. Prices yesterday ranged from 40c to $l.lO a kg. Limited supplies of passionfruit fetched between $8 and $lO a kg. Excellent quality North Island tamarillos were also stocked, fetching from $1 to $2 a kg. Good quality avocados were available, fetching from $2O to $2B a tray. The avocados would ripen within about 10 days if bought now. To hasten ripening, place in a paper bag with an apple.

Australian fruit included watermelon, rock melon, honeydew melon, as well as grapefruit and lemons, and oranges.

Australian navel oranges were plentiful, fetching up to $lB a carton.

Some Australian strawberries were stocked at slightly lower prices than last week, fetching up to $64 a tray of 20 punnets. Other imported fruit included Philippine bananas, at $23.10 a carton, and Californian grapes. The grapes were available in both Flame and Cardinal varieties.

Prices ranged from $44 a carton for Cardinals to $52.80 for Flames. Some Australian Ohanez grapes were also stocked, fetching up to $lB a carton. Stunner apples were now replacing the Splendour and Golden Delicious varieties, which were nearing the end of their season. Pears remained plentiful and included both Winter Cole and Packham Triumph varieties.

Today's recipes LEMON BROCCOLI SOTg broccoli 1 tspn butter ground black pepper Boiling salted water 1 tbsp lemon juice Method: Trim broccoli stalks and wash well. Make two cuts at the end of the stalk at right angles to form a cross. Cook broccoli in boiling salted water 8 to 10 minutes or until tender. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the stalks. Drain well. Add butter, lemon juice and freshly ground black pepper to the saucepan. Toss broccoli gently to coat evenly

with melted butter and lemon juice. Serves four. Lemon and Walnut Bran Muffins 1 cap flour 2 tspns baking powder 1 cup bran 2 tspns grated lemon rind % cup milk 3 tbspns golden syrup 1 egg 5 tbspns sugar % tspn salt 14 cup chopped walnuts % tspn baking soda 59 grams butter % cup lemon juice Method: Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Stir in the bran, chopped walnuts and grated lemon rind. Dissolve the baking soda in the milk. Cream together the butter, golden syrup and lemon juice. Beat the egg and combine all the liquid ingredients together. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients, and pour in the liquid. Stir quickly until blended. Turn mixture into well greased muffin tins to % full. Bake at 220 deg. for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Makes 12.