David Stewart: Plenty of fresh vegetables available

This week we are again surrounded by lots of beautiful fresh salad vegetables.

John Clarke's iceberg lettuces from Levin, hot house tomatoes from Ohaupo, hot house grown capsicums and cucumbers from Pukekohe are all selling at extremely attractive prices.

The tomatoes situation is very interesting at present, not much different from last year with large volumes available and selling at very cheap prices.

As I suggested at this time last year, it may be a good idea to think about preserving and bottling tomatoes before rather than after Christmas.

I know this sounds a little strange but I think it could be a good idea with the prices as good as they are.

In the green vegetable section, beautiful asparagus and huge heads of broccoli have been the top selling items over the last week or so.

Some of the heads of broccoli have been absolutely huge and the prices have been very good.

Other top vege buys are locally grown courgettes, nice fresh green peas, sugar snap peas and snow peas from Hawke's Bay along with beautiful fresh beetroot from Levin, all good summer time eating.

Supplies of cauliflower and celery are again only adequate this week and the prices remain firm.

Look out for new season locally grown beans to come onto the market anytime soon.

All your carrots, parsnips and swedes are now coming from the Pukekohe area and their season will run through until late February, early March.

The most popular potato at present is the Pukekohe grown new season Ilam Hardy variety. As I have stated previously, all potato prices will remain quite firm over summer.

Kumaras, onions and pumpkins are all remaining quite steady in price with adequate volumes to meet the demand at this time of year.

Great news on the fruit scene, we have received the first of the new season cherries and nectarines from Hawke's Bay.

This is very early fruit and prices are firm but it is the first fruit of the season and this will change quite quickly.

The strawberry season continues with good local and Waikato berries available.

You will find Waikato blueberries, raspberries and local blackberries at slightly cheaper prices this week with volumes slowly rising as it gets warmer.

Hawke's Bay apples, Gisborne oranges, lemons, mandarins and tangelos are readily available and the pears are now all imported from the US.

If you haven't tried US pomegranates, now is the time with very good prices available.

Other imports include grapes from the US, Dole tropical pineapples and paw paws from the Philippines as well as a good supply of Ecuador bananas.

Australian mangos and melons are selling well and again if you haven't tried a beautiful Australian mango, please do so, they are my favourite and I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Remember to buy what is in season and on special.

- David Stewart is the owner of The Fresh Market Gate Pa and home delivery service mygreengrocer.co.nz