Good variety available on buoyant market

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 20

Good variety available on buoyant market

The market was buoyant yesterday after a day off with buyers especially eager to restock fruit supplies. The last of the strawberries attracted high prices and plenty of buyers. The first of the brickred Braeburn apples will add yet another variety to the already wide range of apples and pears at the market this season. Braeburn were $19.40 a 15kg crate, Fuji were $19.95 a 15kg crate. Royal Gala, $14.95 a 15kg crate, Red Delicious, $14.50 a crate, Granny Smith $14.80 a crate and Spartan $13.95 a crate. There was a good range of persimmons, New Zealand oranges, tamarillos, and Cape gooseberries, but the quality of persimmons was not high, according to one of the market staff. Persimmons were selling between $l5 to $lB, and tamarillos for $4 a kilogram. Kiwifruit is at full supply now with large bins available and the quality is good. These were 40c to $1 a kilogram. Nashi are still in supply at $5 to $8 a tray, and New Zealand oranges were $25 a carton. In spite of the cooler weather, lemons, limes and mandarins are still attracting good sales. Lemons were $22 a carton, limes $3 a kilogram, and mandarins were $2.80 to $3.20 a kilogram. Hothouse Italia grapes as a complimentary side dish to cheese and wine were available for $6 a kilogram, and juicy grapefruit from Nelson were $22 a carton.

Californian grapefruit are also selling well at $25.80 a box, and Californian tangerines are $26.20 to $27.70 a carton. The popular Californian oranges will be short until a new shipment of the fruit arrives next week. The oranges will probably be back in plentiful supply by the end of next week. Australian pineapples are a welcome addition to tropical fruit at $36 a carton of 12 to 16. Limes are $3l a 10kg carton. Thompson seedless grapes are $2B to $34 a tray. Black grapes are available in three varieties for $33.50 to $36 a tray. Vegetable lines are moving slower than the fruit section with buyers unable to make up their minds whether to buy winter or summer vegetables with the unpredictable weather. Local lettuces are dwindling and soon only Oamaru lettuces will be available but the market auctioneers do not see this as meaning prices will suddenly rise. Local crops are $4 to $6.40 a case and Oamaru are $5 to $6.50 a case. Potatoes are almost double the prices they were this time last year with standard potatoes at $5 to $6.50 a 20kg bag, and Desiree $6 a 10kg bag. Red king was $4.50 a 10kg bag. Supplies are still plentiful but some sources still predict market prices will continue to rise. Winter vegetables such as pumpkin, kumara and parsnips seem to sell well in “fits and starts,” accordign to one of the auctioneers.

Kumara is $2O to $22 a carton from Dargaville and Motueka. Gold kumara is $25 a carton. Crown pumpkin is 20c a kilogram, and parsnips are $lO to $10.40 a 10kg bag. Parsnip supplies are only adequate. Yams for delicious winter roasts are back on the floor at $6 a kilogram for large, and $3.50 a kilogram for small. Tomatoes were fullysupplied this week easing prices back to $5 to $9 for a carton of 4.5 kg local. $5 to $8 a carton of 4.5 kg Nelson, and $3.50 to $6 for outdoor. The price variations depended on quality. Today’s Recipe Broccoli with Tuna Sauce 750 g fresh broccoli 25 grams butter 1 small onion, grated 2 tablespoons flour 185 gram can tuna Combined liquid from tuna and milk to make 1 cup Salt and pepper Lemon juice i/ 2 cup grated cheese Paprika Method: Cook broccoli in boiling salted water until tender. Drain and place in greased heatproof dish. Melt butter in a saucepan and fry onion gently for 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in flour and blend in liquid. Return to heat and stir while bringing to boil. Add lightly flaked tuna to sauce and simmer for 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Pour sauce over broccoli. Top with grated cheese and grill until cheese melts. Dust with paprika and serve hot. Serves 6.