3 - 9 April 2023 update Sydney Market that includes availability and price of seasonal fruits, vegetables and flowers. Also includes recipe suggestions.
FRUIT
Whether you eat them fresh or cooked, pears are a delicious and healthy addition to autumn meals and desserts. Baking pears brings out their natural sweetness and makes them tender and juicy, and try baking them with cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey for a delicious and healthy dessert. Select from Williams, Packham and Beurre Bosc and Corella pears are in season and selling for $2-$7 a kilo, depending on size and variety.
Sweet persimmons are a delicious and unique fruit with a sweet, delicate flavour that pairs well with tangy citrus flavours like limes and lemons. Persimmons can add a sweet and juicy element to any salad, and try tossing sliced sweet persimmons with mixed greens, goat cheese, and a tangy lime or lemon vinaigrette. Sweet persimmons, also known as fuyu fruit, are $7-$15 a kilo.
Versatile pomegranates are a flavourful fruit that can add a touch of glamour to any dish. Their sweet-tart flavour and beautiful ruby-red seeds make them popular for sweet and savoury recipes. Depending on size, pomegranates are $5-$15 a kilo. Try this tasty salad jap pumpkin, rocket & pomegranate quinoa salad.
This Easter, be inspired by the colours of autumn and enjoy meals made with lots of fresh seasonal produce.
Start with sweet and juicy grapes. It has been a bumper season for Aussie grapes, and there is still plenty of varieties to choose from in shades of green, pink and black-skinned varieties. Add grapes to muffins, roast and toss through a salad or add to pizza topping with feta cheese. Pick up a bunch for $3-$25 a kilo and get creative with grapes.
Be sure to have a good supply of limes or lemons in the fruit bowl this week. Both limes and lemons are available at reasonable prices and perfect for enjoying, teamed with seafood, lamb or making a delicious lemon tart. Limes are 60¢-$1 each, and lemons are $2-$5 a kilo, depending on size and quality.
Creamy-fleshed green-skinned Shepard avocados are plentiful and a thrifty seasonal buy at $2-$4 each, depending on the size. Avocados contain 'good' unsaturated fat and are the richest Vitamin E source of all fruits and vegetables. Ripe avocados yield to gentle pressure around the stem. If firm, leave it at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Pick up a Mini Lee Melon this week; these miniature watermelons are delicious to eat, and despite their sweet taste, melons are very low in kilojoules. Expect to pay $1-$3 a kilo.
VEGETABLES
Fennel has a crunchy texture and a sweet, anise-like flavour, making it delicious when eaten raw. Try slicing it thinly and adding it to a salad or serving it with dips like hummus or tzatziki. Roasting fennel brings out its natural sweetness and gives it a caramelized flavour. Fennel can also be sautéed, braised, or grilled. It pairs well with various flavours, including citrus, garlic, and herbs like thyme and rosemary. This week fennel is $1.50-$2 a bulb.
Dutch carrots, also known as baby carrots, are a sweet and tender variety of carrots that are perfect for snacking or incorporating into various dishes. Steaming Dutch carrots is a quick and easy way to cook them while preserving their nutrients. Steam them for 5-10 minutes until tender, then season them with butter or herbs. Grab a bunch or two this week for $2-$3. Or go a bit fancy with purple, white or yellow carrots for $4-$5 a bunch.
Easter is a traditional time to enjoy seafood and Autumn vegetable pairings to create delicious and healthy Easter meals. Remember to add some fresh herbs and seasonings to bring out the flavours of the seafood and vegetables! Try these easy and tasty recipes Asian coriander pesto with salmon kebabs | fennel, pink grapefruit & salmon salad or broccolini, coriander & sriracha prawn stir-fry. Fresh herbs are fabulous at $2.50-$3 a bunch.
Victorian-grown broccolini supplies are picking up. Select broccolini with compact buds and firm stems. Broccolini is fabulous at $2.50-$3 a bunch; alternatively, switch to broccoli for $4-$5 a kilo.
Zucchini is a staple ingredient in many Italian dishes, and this versatile vegetable pairs deliciously with tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. Grated zucchini mixed with flour, eggs, and Parmesan cheese, then fried until golden brown and crispy, makes tasty Zucchini fritters. Zucchini is also fabulous thinly sliced, brushed with olive oil and char-grilled until tender and lightly charred. It can be served as a side dish or added to toasted sandwich fillings, pizza toppings, antipasti and salads. Zucchini are $4-$6 a kilo.
March to June is the peak time for chestnuts. Cooked chestnuts have a sweet taste and a texture similar to a roasted potato. Chestnuts are terrific boiled, baked, grilled or roasted. The best-eating chestnuts have a glossy brown shell and feel heavy for their size. This week fresh chestnuts are $6-$15 a kilo, depending on variety and size.
Pumpkins' golden flesh and natural sweetness offer so many possibilities. They are good value at $1.50-$3 a kilo for a whole pumpkin. Select from butternut, Jap or Jarrahdale pumpkin varieties.
Sweeter than brown, white or red onions, eschalots have a distinct well-balanced onion flavour and are often used in French and Asian cooking. Red eschalots are somewhat smaller but sweeter than golden eschalots and preferred for curry pastes and Asian salads and cooking. Eschalots are $7-$12 a kilo.
The gentle sweetness of leeks combines deliciously with eggs, mushrooms, ham, cream, mustard, potatoes and cheese. Leek and mushroom frittata is a delicious and easy meal for breakfast, brunch, or a light dinner. Sauteed leeks and mushrooms are mixed with beaten eggs and baked until set. Firm, plump single stems are $2-$3 each.
Tasty and nutritious mushrooms are all-year-round favourites. The large meaty flat mushrooms are rich in flavour and ideal for pan-frying, grilling, baking or barbecuing. In contrast, button mushrooms are mild-flavoured and suitable for salads, stir-fries and blending. Mushrooms are $7-$12 a kilo.
FLOWERS
Easter is a beautiful time of year to gift fresh flowers! Visiting your local florist is a great way to find beautiful, in-season flowers like dahlias in various colours and shapes. They are known for their bold, showy blooms. Chrysanthemums are another autumn flower that is fabulous during April. Leucadendrons come in multiple colours, from greens and yellows to pinks and reds, and have a distinctive texture. While roses are available year-round, they are especially abundant during autumn in Australia.
Prices quoted in this report are only relevant for the week of the report. All prices are estimates only as prices vary depending on variety, size and quality of produce and the trading area. For further information, please contact Sue Dodd, Marketing Consultant on 0438725453.
Published On 2023-04-03 10:31:00
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