My pick of the week this week is definitely KP mangoes from the tablelands district in Northern Queensland. They will not be as cheap as in previous years as the season is running a little later than normal. The fruit is mostly a little smaller than normal so large mangoes will be on the dearer side, look for smaller fruit for the best value. The quality is definitely better than was available in the last two years for Christmas and the KP season will go on for longer than normal, at this stage all of January is looking good. As always, in Christmas week, there is an enormous demand for premium quality fruit and so anything good firms in price - anything scarce gets very dear. So cherries will not be cheap but they are very good and we are starting to get a dribble of the highly sought after Tasmanian fruit. With nectarines and peaches, there is a gap in the nectarine supply so I would opt more for peaches. Grapes are eating well and all melons are really good and reasonably priced. Strawberries and blackberries look like being dear but we have ample blueberries and raspberries to satisfy our needs in the berry category. The brutally hot days in the Riverina have abruptly terminated our navel season and we will start to stock the American navels for those who insist on the product. In my view this is one of the best seasons yet for Aussie Valencias. They are full of juice and have that all Australian flavour, a much better go than the imported oranges. I always enjoy the fresh taste of a lychee for Christmas. Although not cheap this week we have what are probably the best eating apricots to date this year. So there are lots of choices this week for a very merry Christmas.
IN VEGETABLE
As one would expect the intense eastern seaboard heat has damaged some of the crops particularly some of the more delicate salad lines. However most of our Christmas day lines are still unscathed at this time. Hand picked beans, pumpkin, parsnips, all tomatoes and sweet potato are all well supplied with maybe one proviso that I think Kestrel potatoes due to where they are grown will show less heat stress than most of the washed potatoes which are virtually grown in the South Australian deserts and copped a beating in the last few days. So lots of choices here. Finally I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Cathy, myself and our family to wish you our customers a happy and healthy Christmas and a wonderful year to come in 2016.
