Our Fresh Produce Report

This report was updated on Wednesday the 1st February for deliveries 6th - 9th February 2012

Available produce and pricing is updated each Wednesday evening
For delivery Monday - Wednesday: Order by 4pm Friday
For delivery Thursday: Order by 8am Monday 

• All things considered the week hasn't been as bad, in terms of supply, as it could have been. The next challenge will be how the produce fairs over the next few days. Picking fruit & veg in the rain, especially after hot weather is pretty much a recipe for disaster. Items that look perfect today could develop problems tomorrow....We stand firmly behind our quality guarantee, so if you do encounter problems with the produce we have delivered to you this week, lettuce know. We would never intentionally send you produce that is below the standard you have grown to expect from us...but with the weather we are experiencing anything is possible....including us packing what looks to be good, only to have you unpack your box a day later with produce that is breaking  down. Bear with us, the wet weather can't last for too much longer ! 
  
• ...and that's it for the Mango Season this year. I'm sure you will all agree the Mangoes have been delicious. Fruit we sent out this week ended up being from Anthony Bauer....Guinta was having severe problems with the end of his crop developing black spot. The fruit is a little greener than we have been receiving over the last few weeks...to ripen simply leave in a warm location in the kitchen.
  
• Seedless Watermelon is now in good supply and sweet. Available from Brander and Block 11 in NSW the melons are cutting well and taste fantastic. Now $2.80 per kilo. 
  
• New season Gala Apples from Mal McMahon in Pozieres are great. Sweet, crunchy and of course being welcomed back with open arms...Mal is also supplying our Juicing Apples at the moment...New season Gala that are extra small or have a strange shape...these apples are excellent value and certainly of an eating grade.....Mal McMahon will begin to pick his new season Mutsu Apples this week. Mutsu are a green apple which are very similar to a Granny Smith....in fact if we listed them as Grannies it would take an expert to point out they were actually Mutsu's. 
  
• Blueberries from Victoria & Tassie, Menindee Grapes from Borderland, Flame Grapes from Robinvale, Peaches & Plums from David & Gwen Fairey, Rockmelons from Brander & Block 11, William Pears from McMahon, Cavendish Bananas from Abbott & Grima as well as White Nectarines from Ken Lester were superb this week. Nashi Pears from Darby's Organics, Muscatelle Grapes from Rocisano, & Reed Avocadoes back on the list this week. Reed Avocadoes are a favourite in our family....Super smooth with fantastic flavour.  
  
• Crimson Grapes - also one of our favourites will start in approx 10 days - YUM ! The crunchiest of all the grape varieties....
  
• Winter Fruits including Lemons, Navel Oranges & Grapefruit are at the very end of their season and must be stored in the fridge or you will see them deteriorate before your eyes. 
  
• How is your Celery...I have two bunches of Celery in my fridge that look as they have come from different planets. One looks fantastic, while the other has already developed brown spots in the centre of the bunch. As I mentioned last week, we never seem to have much luck with this Celery...but it is all that is available to us at the moment....Generally the Celery tastes delicious, are large & mature bunches...but some bunches have problems with their inner stalks and leaves. Know what to expect. Any major problems lettuce know.  Edwards will start his season within the next few weeks. 
  
• Sorry about the lack of Broccolini this week. I hope the broccoli worked at your end. Supply should be fine for deliveries starting Monday the 6th of February. 
  
• Finally, Tim Hamilton has begun to pick his glamour Victorian beans ! Many Growers try their hand at this veg...but there remains only 2 true masters - Hamilton and Mahaffey. Order with confidence ! Delicious, Juicy beans with a real snap ! 
  
• ...Fred Rowdowsky will also begin his crop of new season Carrots this week - Yeehah. We have been switching and swapping between growers for the last few months on Carrots as quality has been so variable from one week to the next. Finally, Super sweet, small carrots just how we like them. Fred will not be able to supply our Juicing Carrots for at least 2 weeks....supply will continue to come from Arahura and Jesmond.
  
• As you all know Pim was unable to supply us with her glamour Salad Mix this week..it was just too wet !She has been in touch letting me know that her Garden has been enjoying beautiful QLD Sunshine over the last few days and thinks she should be able to pick on the weekend...
  
• Jo has been in touch to lettuce know that his farm has received quite a battering over the last week. Lettuce will be on the smaller side for deliveries starting Monday the 6th...In wet weather lettuce can go bad from the inside out, especially when it has been hot....the inside of the lettuce becomes a bit like an oven. If you have any problems please lettuce know.  As you may or may not know we do not strip back our lettuce, if we do so, inner leaves become outer leaves...ultimately leaving you with a good looking, but smaller lettuce..On arrival you should check your lettuce for any damaged outer leaves and remove them before storage in a peak fresh bag or airtight container...remove the outer leaves just before consuming !  
  
• Green Capsicum & French Leeks from Rachel Saliba, Red Capsicum from Shane Eldridge, Broccoli from Quintin Bland, Lebanese Cucumber from Cove, Potatoes (now all new season from Kyne & Coolibah in VIC), Corn (although a little grubby) from Jo & Block 11, Fennel from Charlie, Jap Pumpkin from Garry Hamm, Grape Cherry Tomatoes from Big River (still on special this week - $3.80 per punnet) & Zucchini from David Fairey were all great this week. Snake Beans back on the list this week from Keandy.
  
• Zucchini Flowers from David Ross were fantastic this week…They are on the list, but availability is actually in the hands of Mother Nature….If it is too hot or wet the flowers cannot be picked…Fingers Crossed. David's Golden Nugget Pumpkins were also delicious this week. Golden Nugget are a small, roundish pumpkin with very thin skin, excellent for stuffing. Do not peel.