Potato prices may increase

Press, 15 September 1988, Page 28

Potato prices may increase

Bad weather in the North Island has firmed pumpkin prices this week, and may also help push potato prices up. A shortage of pumpkins and potatoes in the North Island following recent bad weather meant Christchurch markets were sending pumpkins and potatoes north. Crown pumpkins sold at $7 to $lO a bag, butternut $24 a bag. Potatoes were $2.30 to $4.20 a 20kg bag and red king was $5 a 10kg bag. Both potato and pumpkin prices are predicted to rise during the next few weeks. Desiree potato lovers should be in soon, because the last Desiree for the season are available this week. Their flexibility in any cooking preparation has won them a great following with consumers. Desirees sold for $5.20 a bag, Red King was $5 a bag, and Chippewa were $2.30 to $4.20 a 20kg bag. The recent warm weather had boosted the sale of salad vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, alfalfa and bean sprouts, parsley and spring onions. Good quality lettuce from Nelson was up to $lB a case, Gore Bay was $22 a case, and Oamaru was $4 a case. Spring

onions and parsley as complements to lettuce sold very well this week, according to the market auctioneer. Spring onions were $1 a dozen bunches and parsley, $5 to $5.50 a kilogram. Radish sprouts and lentil sprouts were recently added to the alfalfa and bean sprouts range. According to the market auctioneer, the names indicated the taste of each variety. Alfalfa sprouts sold for $8.50 a tray, and bean sprouts $4.50 a kilogram. Tomatoes were still firm in price because supply still did not meet the increased demand. The North Island’s bad weather meant few tomatoes were sent south. “Even if they are coming on to the floor, they’re not selling as well as the local stuff because they haven’t got the colour. “The weather has affected their growth a great deal,” said a market auctioneer, Mr Warren Frost. Local tomatoes were from $25 to $4O for 4.5 kg cartons. Good quality produce was fielding between $36 to $4O while poor quality attracted anything up to about $25. Auckland

7kg boxes were selling from $4O to $55. An improvement in North Island weather meant more tomatoes next week might push prices back, said the auctioneer. Controlled atmosphere red delicious apples were released for sale this week from Apple and Pear Marketing Board cool storage and sold for $23.25 a 15kg carton. These apples are very juicy without the thick skins usually associated with this variety. Golden Delicious was $13.90 for 15kg, Sturmer $11.40 for 15kg, Granny Smith $l5 for 15kg, and Splendour is available today at $16.90 for 13kg.

Late season Packham’s Triumph Pears became available again at $19.50 for 18kg. Winter Nellis was $19.40 for 18km. Good quality kiwifruit from the North Island was selling well this week at $1 to $1.40 a kgm, as were New Zealand grapefruit and lemons at up to $l6 a carton, oranges at $l5 to $2l a carton, and tangelos at up to $2l a carton. Summery weather meant a pick-up in avacado sales. These fetched up to $l5 a tray, and tamarillos were also sell-

ing well at $11.50 to $2l an Bkg carton. Imported rock melons and honeydew melons from Australia are up to $4.40, and Australian navel oranges were up to $30.50 a carton. Californian grapes are up to $4O a lug, and pineapples are up to $4O a carton of about 14.

Today’s Recipe

Guacamole 1 large ripe avocado (peeled and mashed). 1 tomato (peeled and chopped.) 1 tbsn onion (grated.) pinch of chilli powder. y 4 tspn ground coriander.

y 4 tspn garlic powder, lemon juice to taste, salt to taste. Method: Combine all ingredients and mix well. Place the Guacamole in a serving bowl and serve with sliced raw vegetables or savoury biscuits. Guacamole can also be served as a salad on a bed of lettuce.