9 - 15 DECEMBER 2024 Update Sydney Market that includes availability and price of seasonal fruits, vegetables and flowers. Also includes recipe suggestions.
FRUITS
Flavoursome, aromatic, and ultra-juicy peaches and nectarines are well supplied. Select from white and yellow flesh fruit. Many varieties are now slip-stone, ideal for summertime desserts like this poached spiced summer fruit. Expect to pay $4-$12 a kilo for peaches and nectarines.
Hands up if you have tried Donut peaches. These low-acid, white-fleshed stonefruits are flatter than regular peaches, juicy, tasty, and sweet. Expect to pay $3-$12 a kilo depending on size.
Luscious, fragrant and sweet Aussie mangoes signal summertime! Choose from Kensington Pride, Calypso, Honey Gold and R2E2. Serving suggestion: Team chopped mango with finely chopped red onion, coriander and lime juice for a tasty salsa to serve with barbecued chicken. Mangoes are available at your local greengrocer for $2-$5.
One of our most-loved summer fruits, plump, juicy apricots, are at their best in early summer; their natural sweetness and succulent orange flesh are delicious. Poach whole apricots in a sugar syrup flavoured with orange rind, a vanilla bean and cinnamon stick until tender. Apricots are $5-$15 a kilo.
It's hard to beat the sweet taste of fresh cherries straight from the stalk. Rinse them in cold water, and they're ready to eat. The price range of cherries this week varies with variety, size, and whether they are sold loose or boxed. Recent rain has also impacted some cherries, so cheaper cherries will need to be consumed quickly as they may deteriorate quickly. The better-eating cherries will be $16-$40 a kilo.
Juicy, sweet, and succulent lychees symbolise summer. Select plump lychees with firm skin that feels heavy for their size. Refrigerate lychees in a plastic bag. Consume within 2-3 days of purchase. Lychees come in many varieties, varying in seed size, skin colour, and eating qualities. This week, lychees will range from $15-$20 a kilo.
December is a fabulous time for berries; particular strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and red and white currants are all available. Whip up one of our favourite fast desserts - a classic berry favourite Berries with coconut nougat meringue. Depending on the variety, berries range in price from $2-$4 a punnet.
As lemon prices experience an increase, it's the perfect time to switch to ultra-juicy limes. Pop a few juicy limes in your trolley for 50¢-$1.50 each, or some greengrocer will offer a bag for around $4-$10 a kilo. Squeeze lime juice over seafood to give a refreshing tang, use in BBQ marinades or create a festive season cocktail.
Summer is the best time to enjoy sun-ripened tomatoes. Choose from a great range of glossy tomatoes, including heirloom, cherry, Kumatoes, vine-ripened, Roma, ox-heart, and plenty of grape and cherry-truss tomatoes. For maximum flavour, serve tomatoes at room temperature.
VEGETABLES
Sweet basil is a fragrant herb with a clove-like aroma and a mild peppery flavour, making it a cornerstone of Italian cuisine. Best known as the star ingredient in classic Genovese pesto, it pairs beautifully with tomatoes and enhances a wide range of dishes. Add basil leaves at the end of cooking or scatter them fresh over your dish for the best flavour. Grab a bunch for $3-$4.
Versatile carrots are delicious raw or cooked. They are also a good source of vitamins A and, B6 and C, which help contribute to a healthy immune system. This Moroccan-inspired carrot, rocket, and chickpea salad is a delicious way to enjoy carrots in a tasty salad. Carrots are $1.50-$2.50 a kilo.
New or chat potatoes are in season and available this week at your local greengrocer for $4–$5 per kilo. Boil or microwave them to serve with a dollop of yoghurt or a little butter. They are also ideal for a potato salad like this tasty potato, dill, bacon, and egg salad.
Experience Lebanese cucumbers' tenderness, juiciness, and flavoursome qualities. They are a steal at between $2- $4 per kilo.
Crunchy radishes have a unique peppery flavour with colourful skin and crisp-white flesh. Use them in salads and pickles. Add thinly sliced radishes to salads, slaws and sandwich fillings or serve radishes in the French style, halved with unsalted chilled butter and sea salt. Radishes are $2-$3 a bunch.
Crisp and colourful capsicums packed with beneficial vitamin C are summer essentials. Add chopped raw capsicum to salads or cut into thin strips and serve with your favourite dip. Very versatile, this veggie is also delicious barbecued, stuffed, roasted or slow-cooked in a ratatouille. Depending on origin, variety, and quality, capsicums are $3-$15 a kilo.
Tender and tasty baby spinach adds bright colour, flavour and healthy goodness to summer salads. The fresh, deep green baby spinach leaves are sold by the kilogram for $20 and in pre-packaged bags for $3-$4, depending on weight.
Zucchinis are a favourite in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, loved for their dense white flesh, versatility, and mild flavour. Grated zucchini adds a nutritious boost to pasta sauces, while sliced zucchini sautéed with crushed garlic makes a quick and delicious side dish. This week, pick up fresh zucchinis at your local greengrocer for just $3-$5 per kilo.
Eggplant shines on the barbecue! This vibrant summer favourite is perfect for grilling. Slice the eggplant and generously brush or spray with olive oil. Place the slices on a preheated, greased barbecue or char grill. Cook with the lid down to lock in more, grilling for 2–3 minutes on each side until tender and lightly charred. For a delicious Italian-inspired salad, pair the barbecued eggplant with sliced bocconcini, chopped cherry tomatoes, fresh rocket, and basil. Finish with a drizzle of basil pesto for a burst of flavour. Eggplants are $4-$7 a kilo.
With mushrooms in your fridge, a healthy meal is always within reach. Brush flat, cup, or button mushrooms generously with a mix of olive oil, a splash of Worcestershire or sweet chilli sauce, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Grill them on a barbecue over medium heat, turning occasionally, until tender. Serve and enjoy! Mushrooms typically cost between $7 and $12 per kilo, depending on their quality and size.
FLOWERS
Stunning flowering gum is now in season. Superb peonies, Christmas bush, hydrangeas in pastel tones and richly coloured shades of blue and mauve, Sydney-grown dahlias, orchids, holly, Oriental lilies, achilleas, Allium (garlic flowers), agapanthus (white and purple), David Austin roses, delphinium, buddleia, sea holly, sunflowers, artichoke flowers, crab claws, king proteas, Canterbury bells, chincherinchee, leucadendron and lisianthus. Embark on a visual feast and pop into your local florist to pick up a breathtaking bunch.
Prices in this report are valid for the week of the report and may vary based on variety, size, quality, and trading area. For more information, contact Sue Dodd, Marketing Consultant, at tel 0438 725 453
Published On 2024-12-09 14:48:59
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