Best fruit & vege buys of the week
Tomatoes S/M/L and Roma - Stanthorpe is currently supplying the entire market and with cooler weather slowing growth and volumes, pricing is remaining firm. All Southern stock is staying in VIC and NSW as they are getting BIG money in those Markets. Quality remains fair and with the first of the new season Bundaberg stock being average in appearance we will need 2-3 weeks of good weather to see good quality product return. Blush Cherry on the Vine - supply has improved considerably and volumes are back to normal. Fassifern Heirloom continues to be in good supply this week however Cherry Kumato Tomatoes are light on. Green Beans continue to be a great buy and great eating as well this week. Butter Beans are available but remain tight in supply volumes. Asparagus - all asparagus continues to come from our local suppliers this week. The flush is expected to run for another 3-4 weeks - quality and pricing is good. Capsicums Green - Bundaberg has just started this week with new season stock fair in price and good quality. Reds will remain firm in price for the next 2-3 weeks with Stanthorpe just finishing and Bundaberg stock on the turn from green to red. Corn has done a back flip and jumped up this week. All stock is from VIC with major planting gaps in the QLD season. Brocollini has come back online. Whilst volumes aren't back to normal we should have enough to get through this week from our grower. Cauliflower - avoid this week - VERY short after heavy rains in the early part of the season which caused planting gaps. Broccoli is firm as people are swapping over from cauliflower due to the price spike. Gatton is yet to start (l-2 weeks away) so we are getting produce from a range of sources. Peas remain very tight in supply - more from Sydney on Wednesday.
Imperial Mandarins are a great buy this week with supply in full swing. Appearance and flavour is excellent and should continue for 6-8 weeks. Lemon pricing remains steady with quality and appearance both excellent. New season Navel Oranges from QLD have just started. Colour is only ok, will improve when SA starts. Eating is good. Limes stable in price this week, however volumes are noticeably lower. Little or no demand continues to keep pricing down. Strawberries - avoid this week - firming in price with little or no stock available. We are sourcing from all our SEQ growers and expect supply to remain tight for 3-4 weeks. With all the rain there has been flowering issues and plants producing no runners. Mangoes- Australian season is over and we have swapped to Mexican. Watermelon is still firm in price as we source stock from Chinchilla, Western NSW and WA. We are in-between seasons for all of them please use other melons as a breakfast buffet substitute for a couple of weeks. Pineapples - All QLD stock and easing in price. Quality is excellent. Honeydew and Rockmelon - good quantities of stock are being sourced from Griffith in NSW. Both lines are a good buy this week. Plums - 4-6 weeks left to run. Other Stonefruit is all over.
Tropical Fruits - new season Corella pears , Figs, Fingerlimes (fresh), Bundaberg Quince, Rosellas (frozen), Custard Apples, Carambola (limited supply), Dragonfruit (red flesh only), Longans (imported), Persimmons (new season SEQ supply), Coconuts, Achacha (late season),Kaffir Limes, Pomelo, persimmons and Rambutan.
Source: Simon George & Sons
