David Stewart: Enjoy great tomato prices while you can

Enjoy cheap tomatoes and fresh iceberg lettuces.

This week I will start with a handy tip: enjoy your cheap tomatoes as the flush is nearly over and prices will increase with demand leading into Christmas.

The majority of the tomatoes are coming from hothouses stretching from Reporoa to Pukekohe and as always everyone's crop is ready at the same time.

At around $2 per kilo, it is the same price I was selling tomatoes at 30 years ago.

Over the last few days we have been selling lovely iceberg lettuces grown by Fran Giacon in Katikati, telegraph cucumbers grown by Passion Fresh in Pukekohe and avocados from the Far North.

The supply of capsicums is good but prices have firmed a fraction over the last week or so, again the flush is over but as new crops come on stream, prices should settle.

As we move into summer your selection of green vegetables is expanding daily with new season round beans and green peas coming from Kevin Bayley in Hawke's Bay and nice flat beans from the Bhoondpal family in Pukekohe.

The supply of asparagus and courgettes is reasonable again this week and together with the abundant supply of broccoli, you can make some lovely meals.

Surprisingly freshly cut cauliflowers from Pukekohe are selling well at this time of year and the sweet corn season is progressing really well.

The early corn from the Far North will finish later this week to be replaced by Waikato grown corn and hopefully prices will come back a touch.

As I have been saying for a few weeks now, the supply of Pukekohe carrots and potatoes are not plentiful to say the least.

The Pukekohe carrots are in very short supply with extremely firm prices, all to do with difficult weather during the growing season.

The first of the new season Pukekohe red and brown onions are available, both are very fresh with a nice sweet flavour as opposed to the old season onions.

Just a hint, look out for better prices on Oamaru jersey benne potatoes in the shop this week, you will be happy to save a dollar or two.

New season buttercup supplies are good and for the first time in many years you will see very reasonably priced pumpkins for Christmas.

Northland kumara prices continue to rise and everyone has their fingers crossed that we have enough supply to satisfy the Christmas demand.

Hawke's Bay apricots, cherries, nectarines and peaches are improving daily with the best sellers being the royal rosa apricots and cherries.

Blueberries and strawberries are the top selling berries but please take a look at the Katikati grown raspberries, they are absolutely beautiful eating.

On the import scene you will find very reasonable prices on Australian R2E2 mangos and melons along with US grapes and pomegranates.

The first good shipment of US citrus is due to arrive later this week with grapefruit, navel oranges and lemons on board.

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