| April Market Report 2009 |
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FRUIT Time to forget English top fruit as it is all past its best. Coxes orange pippins are pappy inside; Conference and Comice Pears are finished and all but a few samples remain. Blood Oranges are in good quantity and quality but remain highly priced, as is a lot of produce from Italy. They seem to have suffered more than the rest of Europe with very poor weather the last six months or so. South American Satsumas have begun arriving in good quantities and are beginning to show better colour; Good eating, easy peel from the southern hemisphere. Ridding all the F.A.Q stuff from Europe and Asia. Strawberries from Spain are eating very nice. Firm full colour and not too large are the ones to look out for. Cherries from France and Spain will soon be here…..I am told the quality this year is outstanding providing there is no adverse weather between now and the end of the month. VEGETABLES Brocolli seems to have got over the disease problems it had and prices are dropping albeit slowly but all you foodies/veggies seem to have overlooked that closer to home we have purple broccoli(grown in the land we live in) in large quantities and reasonable in price….so ring us and ask us . Jersey ware and mids are available but price restrictive; but hey, you want to be the first to come on fill your boots, they soon drop in price. English asparagus also eager to book a place on everybody’s summer menu, is however in limited quantities, but it will be here before you know it. Carrots are up in price …why not have a look at Chantenay carrots…..personally I believe they represent better value than their bigger brothers and look good dished up! Beans, Mange Tout and Sugar Snap prices seem to be firming up but still represent value for money. Dutch Aubergines are in good supply, long gone are the bad old days of a few weeks ago when aubergines were off the menu because even the rich could not afford them. Spinach, leeks, cauliflowers are all down to acceptable levels now, but of course we are all looking to spring and summer vegetables which make good accompanying vegetables. SALADS Lollo Rosso, Oakleaf and Lollo Biondi are all coming down in price. Baby leaf salads are becoming more popular …..Look at our product list or ring our sales department for availability. All varieties of Tomatoes including beef and cherry seem to be defying the odds and remain pricey. Cucumbers and iceberg prices are reasonable and of good quantity. Avocadoes remain in short supply with prices achieving record levels. |
