Mushrooms in short supply at market

Press, 25 August 1988, Page 14

Mushrooms in short supply at market

Mushrooms were in short supply at the market this week, with most buyers taking what they could get at $9 a kilogram. The marketing manager for Meadow Mushrooms, Ltd, the major South Island supplier, Mr Pat O’Byrne, said his firm was "a bit down” on production and hoped to get supplies back to normal as soon as possible.

Because of an earlier fluSh, cauliflowers were also in short supply at $6.40 to $8 a bag of eight. Most other vegetable prices remained relatively unchanged, except asparagus, which became more plentiful, at about $8.50 a kilogram. Brussels sprouts were selling from $8.50 to $lO a carton. Cabbages are still reasonably priced at $6 to $7 a bag of eight, red $6 a bag of six, Savoy $7 a bag of eight, and Chinese $4 to $5 a case.

New potatoes from Pukekohe are still preferred by most as compliments to roasts. They attracted a high price of $27 a 20kg bag. Black soil chipewa were $2.70 to $4.20 a 20kg bag, and $1.20 to $1.60 a 10kg bag. Desiree was $4.80 a 10kg bag, and Red King 10kg for $4.20.

Pumpkin is still available for $22 a bag butternut, $3.50 a bag buttercup, and up to $8 a bag crown. Swedes were fetching $8 a bag. Celery rose slightly, selling' up to $22 a case for nine to 12 bunches, while leeks eased back slightly to $8 to $l2 for 12 bunches. Kumara was constant at $3O to $36 a carton.

Supplies of tomatoes shortened this week, pushing prices up. Auckland tomatoes in 7kg boxes were selling up to $42 each yesterday morning. Local 4.5 kg cartons attracted up to $3l. All were hothouse produce, outdoor crops are not expected until mid-January.

The arrival of new season hothouse tomatoes, however, is expected to push prices back slightly.

Stonefruit from California on Monday added some excitement to an otherwise quiet market. Plums, nectarines and peaches were eagerly scooped up by most retailers at $47 a 12.5 kg case of plums, $34 a 9.5 kg case of peaches, and $42 a 9.5 kg case of nectarines. Other imported fruits were Californian grapes for $36.30 a 10kg case, Phillipine bananas at $22.50 a box and Austra-. lian pineapple for up to $37.50 a case of 14 to 18 fruit.

Good-quality New Zealand avacados are very popular. Haas was $25 to $32 a tray, Fuerte $66 to $l5 a tray, and zutano $l2 to $l5 a tray.

New Zealand citrus from the North Island is still in good supply. Lemons are $lO to $lB a ' carton and oranges from $l6 to $22 a carton.

Juicy granny smith apples are specialling for $11.40 a 15kg crate and $14.05 an 18kg carton. Not as tarty as many others, they are very good for cooking and eating.

They should be specialling in most supermarkets and shops around the city. Other prices remained

relatively unchanged. Splendours were $18.40 a 15kg crate or $24.90 an 18kg • carton, Sturmas $11.40 a 15kg crate, Richared $16.20 a 15kg crate. Winter cole pears were $19.40 to $24.90 an 18kg carton. Today’s Recipe: LEMON CRUNCH PIE Crust: l>/ 2 c crushed sweet biscuit crumbs 75g butter 2 tbsp honey 1 tsp finely grated lemon rind METHOD: Have the biscuit crumbs crushed to a medium-fine grain. Melt the butter and honey together, add the lemon rind to this and stir into the crushed biscuits until all are moistened. Press over the base and sides of a 20cm pie plate. Chill in the refrigerator. Filling: 2 eggs 2 tbsp honey 2 tbsp flour 4/5c milk l/5c lemon juice i/ 4 c cream

METHOD: Separate the eggs and mix the yolks with the honey and flour. Heat the milk and stir this into the egg mixture. Return all the mixture to the saucepan and cook over gentle heat with steady stirring until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat and carefully stir in the lemon juice.

Allow this mixture to cool. Beat the egg whites until stiff, then beat the cream until thick. Fold both of these into the lemon sauce mixture. Pour the filling into the chilled crust. Freeze for 3 hours or until quite firm. If wished, decorate with cream and nuts before serving. Serves six.