Larger supplies of new carrots help ease prices

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 16

Larger supplies of new carrots help ease prices

Increased volumes of new season Pukekohe carrots helped ease prices this week and buyers made the most of the price drops by taking available supplies. The quality of the carrots was excellent, according to one of the market managers, and prices were about $23 a bag or $1.50 each for new season bunched carrots.

New season parsnips are available from next week, but limited quantities may mean higher prices. Salad lines took off this week with the warmer weather, but capsicums are still short without Australian crops to supplement the local market. Local capsicums have been slower to come on to the market floor.

Lettuce is plentiful with supplies coming from local and Nelson growers. Asparagus has just started inching back up in price as the flush comes to an end. Prices are still very reasonable at $1.20 to $2 a kilogram. In spite of their low price, potatoes are selling slowly with little movement off the market floor. Pukekohe new potatoes were $l5 a bag, Nelson

new were $l2 a bag, Desiree was $5 a 10kg bag, Red King $4.50 a 10kg bag, and standard potatoes were $3.50 to $5 a 20kg bag. Tomatoes are very plentiful but, selling slowly this week with local, Nelson and Blenheim, 4.5 kg cartons costing up to $4.50 each. Auckland tomatoes were $3 to $4 a kilogram.

The first of the American red delicious were available this week and of excellent quality and colour. At this time of the season they are very crisp and juicy. Other imported-pip-fruit were Australian Packhams Triumph pears and Golden Delicious apples, brought in to help supplement the New Zealand market where growers have reached the end of the season.

The only New Zealand apples available now are Controlled Atmosphere Democrats and Stunner apples. The Democrat variety was very floury when last tested by “The Press” on Tuesday. New Zealand oranges may be suspect in quality as this is another line at the end of its season but tangelos, lemons and grapefruit are still quite

plentiful, said one of the market managers. For those summer desserts of strawberries and cream, - strawberries are coming back in price as more become available. These were up to $2 a punnet. A fresh shipment of Californian grapes is expected during the weekend and should be available in shops by Tuesday. Today’s Recipe AVOCADO TOMATOES 6 medium tomatoes 1 large avocado squeeze lemon juice 1 tbsp chopped green capsicum salt and pepper extra mayonnaise salt 2 tsps grated onion 1 tbsp chopped celery lettuce leaves Method: Peel the tomatoes and scoop out the centres. Sprinkle with salt and turn upside down to drain. Remove avocado flesh and mash with mayonnaise, lemon juice, onion, pepper and celery. Season to taste.

Fill tomato cases with this mixture and serve each tomato on a lettuce leaf topped with extra mayonnaise.