First big delivery of new potatoes reaches market

Press, 10 September 1987, Page 28

First big delivery of new potatoes reaches market

The first big consignment of genuine new potatoes arrived on the Christchurch market yesterday. The Pukekohe potatoes sold at $2O a 20kg bag. They were sown in winter, and peel easily. Nelson new potatoes have been on the market for the last week or so, and sold yesterday for $22 to $24 a 20kg bag. Supplies of asparagus were building, and there should be a lot more around in the next few weeks, said Market Gardeners, Ltd. Asparagus sold for $4.50 to $5 a kilogram. Canterbury broccoli was generally in short supply so produce was brought from Blenheim and the North Island. The prices were firm, at $2 to $2.50 a kilogram.

Brussels sprouts from Oamaru were getting towards the end of the season so good lines were fetching better prices than they had been, said MacFarlane and Growers. Because it was the end of the season, the quality of some was not so good. The sprouts sold at $1.20 to $2 a kilogram. There were good supplies-. of drumhead cabbages which, sold at 20c to 50c each. Chinese cabbages are getting towards the end of their season and a lot are going to seed. Red cabbages are in demand and the prices reasonably firm. Good quality carrots are in demand, and sold at $3 to $8 a 20kg bag. A mild winter has. meant that carrots are growing again earlier than usual.

Cauliflowers were selling at $1 each, and goodsized celery of excellent quality at $8 to $lO a carton.

Lettuces are coming from Nelson at $l3 to $16.60 a case, and the glasshouse lettuces from Canterbury were in demand at 50c to $1.20 each. Lettuces from Oamaru are coming towards the

end of their season. These sold at $3 to $5.50 a carton.

Yams were in good supply, and of good quality, as a result of the mild winter. They sold for up to $2 a kilogram. Kumaras from Dargaville are in plentiful supply. Prices have eased as greater quantities have come forward. Kumara sold at $25 to $3O a carton. Mushrooms sold well at $l3 to $l6 a 3kg tray.

Tomatoes were in short supply and so quite expensive. Canterbury tomatoes went for up to $3O for 4.5 kg, and Auckland tomatoes for up to $4B for 7kg.

The numbers of avocados are increasing. These sold at 30c to 70c each.

New Zealand oranges were at 55c to 90c a kilogram and kiwifruit was still in plentiful supply at 60c to 80c a kilogram. There were a lot of Australian strawberries about, which sold for $3 to $3.50 a punnet. Australian Pakum pears will appear in Christchurch shops for the first time tomorrow. They sold at $34 an 18kg carton. Red Delicious apples sold at $14.80 a 15kg crate and Granny Smiths at $14.60 a 15kg crate. Winter Nells pears went for $19.80 an 18kg crate. From Australia, there were beans, courgettes, cucumbers, aubergines, ginger, capsicums, pineapples, mandarins and strawberries. There were also watermelons at $1.60 to $l.BO a kilogram, rock melons at $33 to $36 for 24, and honeydew melons at $54 a carton of 21 to 24. Flowers The daffodil season has practically finished, after three weeks. Mr Tim Armstrong, manager of the flower market at, MacFarlane and Growers, said yesterday that it was "unbelievable.”

"We had barely a quarter of what we had last week,” he said. "They have been and gone in only about three weeks. Normally they are about for eight or nine weeks.” The problem may have been caused by a lot of wet weather last year, said Mr Armstrong. “The daffodils got wet feet, which they do not like, so they are sulking and have not flowered.” Carnations, on the other hand, were coming on much better, he said. They sold at $5 to $8 a bunch. There were a lot of violets about which sold for 50c to $1.20 for a small bunch. They had stopped flowering with all the fine weather, but had got a fright with the cold weather since Saturday and started flowering again, said Mr Armstrong. Orchids were plentiful and sold at $3 to $5 a stem. On Tuesday the market had 600 to 700 stems. Yesterday there were 200. Blue iris was also profuse, said Mr Armstrong. There was a lot of wedgwood blue, which sold at $3 for five stems. Tulips were also plentiful, having doubled in quantity. Unlike daffodils, perhaps they liked wet feet, said Mr Armstrong. TODAY’S RECIPE Cucumber and Orange Salad 2 small cucumbers, peeled, thickly sliced 2 oranges, peeled, pith and pips removed % cup yoghurt, non-fat, sugar-free 1 tblspn unsweetened apple Juice concentrate Method: Prepare and combine the cucumbers and orange pieces in a salad bowl. Thoroughly mix the yoghurt and apple Juice concentrate. Gently fold through the mixture. Garnish with chopped chives or salad herbs. Serves four.