18 - 24 December 2023 update Sydney Market that includes availability and price of seasonal fruits, vegetables and flowers. Also includes recipe suggestions.
FRUITS:
Your local greengrocer has the best eating and quality peaches and nectarines. Both yellow and white-fleshed fruit are plentiful. Consider buying fruit by the tray as it is more economical and the fruit keeps better, as it is handled less.
Cherries are irresistible and a delicious part of Christmas celebrations. Treat the family to roasted cherries served with turkey or ham this Christmas. For maximum quality use within 2-3 days of purchasing. Your local greengrocer will have the best-eating cherries at the right price.
This week, berries steal the show, with quality strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and red and white currants offering a plethora of options.
Super juicy and refreshingly sweet, fresh lychees are a summer treat. Store lychees in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator. Team lychees with mangoes and mint in this refreshing and easy dessert.
Juicy, blushing apricots are sweet and tangy. If you are looking for a bargain, small fruit that may have a few skin blemishes but is still tasty is good value. Larger blemish fruit is double the price. Char-grill apricots and add to a leafy salad. Poach or roast apricots to serve with turkey and pork.
Crunchy seedless grapes in green, red, and black varieties make a perfect addition to salads or cheese boards.
Fresh limes offer a zesty kick to marinades, salad dressings, festive beverages, seafood, and desserts. Try the delightful lime cheesecake with summer fruits for a summery treat.
Plump and flavoursome early new-season figs make a welcome appearance at your local greengrocer.
Serve creamy fleshed Hass avocados in salads, with prawns or smashed on toast with Christmas ham.
Buy a selection of colourful tomatoes and ripen them at home out of the refrigerator to ensure they reach maximum flavour. Are you looking for an impressive salad to wow your guests? Try this country-style tomato & fennel salad; it is a great side dish to serve with chicken, pork or ham.
Watermelon, ripe and ready to eat, is a sweet choice for summer. Opt for bright pink-fleshed cut watermelon, or choose whole watermelon for a simple dessert of chilled juicy wedges with Turkish delight. Whole watermelon is available for $2-$3 a kilo.
VEGETABLES
Who doesn’t love crunchy potatoes? But imagine crunchy potatoes with cheddar cheese crumbs, so delicious and easy, give them a try. Perfect for roasting or a potato salad, Desiree, Pontiac, Brushed, Kipfler, and Dutch Cream potatoes are in season. If you love a good potato salad, then this potato, dill, bacon & egg salad is delicious.
Add red capsicum to pizza toppings, salads, stir-fries, char-grill, or stuff with meat and vegetable fillings, then bake until tender. Serve colourful roasted capsicums with tomatoes & feta as a side dish or a light vegetarian meal serve.
Tasty Queensland-grown machine and premium handpicked beans are perfect to serve hot or cold. Toss cooked beans with a drizzle of olive oil, lemon rind and roasted garlic to serve hot.
Don't forget the carrots for Santa's reindeer. Alternatively, carrots are perfect for roasting and adding to summery salads. Roasted carrots offer a deliciously sweet flavour, especially when sprinkled with fresh thyme. This carrot, rocket & spiced chickpea salad is a favourite.
Summer is the time to enjoy eggplants. Great for soaking up flavours, eggplant is delicious roasted, grilled, barbecued or baked. Add eggplant to your festive salads.
Golden-fleshed Queensland-grown Jap pumpkins are a Christmas favourite. Add diced roasted pumpkin to salads or bake a whole stuffed pumpkin. Jap pumpkin is priced at $3-$3.50 per kilo whole; you’ll pay a little more if cut.
Pick up a large bunch of green onions, also sold as shallots, as this week they are $2-$3 a bunch. Add sliced green onions to salads, scrambled eggs, pasta dishes or sandwich fillings for a delicate onion flavour.
For festive salads, choose soft-leafed fancy lettuce varieties like Red Oak leaf, Mignonette, Butter, or Red Coral, available for $2-$2.50. Large Cos lettuce or Iceberg is around $3-$3.50 per head. Elevate your salads with a homemade lemon & coriander tahini dressing.
FLOWERS
During Christmas week, there is a big demand for red, white, gold, and green foliage, so we highly recommend that you contact your florist early to place your order. This week, a spectacular range of fresh flowers and foliage is available, including Christmas Bush, Christmas Bells, holly, spruce and potted poinsettias.
Please note that the prices quoted in this report only apply for the current week and are subject to variation based on product variety, size, quality, and the trading area. For more information, please feel free to contact Sue Dodd, Marketing Consultant, at 0438725453
Published On 2023-12-18 16:32:00
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