Brisbane Market Report - 30

As we progress through the final weeks of winter seasonality has caused some price shifts and supply fluctuation of product lines at the Brisbane Produce Market.

In the vegetable aisle, look for cheap beetroot as well as good prices on broccoli, cauliflower, snow peas, sweet potato, parsnips, pumpkin and zucchini.

Asparagus (imported), cabbage, carrots, eggplant, fennel, leeks, squash, mushrooms and onions are all firmly priced, with celery and potatoes ranging from firm to expensive.

Sweet corn and beans are both big movers this week with prices dropping at least by half from last week for great quality product.

In the salad line, tomatoes have dropped in price significantly and are good quality. Cucumbers remain firmly priced while eshallots, avocados and lettuce are priced reasonably and mixed salad leaf is going cheap to round out those salads.

Capsicums are once again firmly priced and of average quality.

Herbs are reasonably priced, but supply of coriander, basil and dill has been low this week, so expect to pay a little more for these lines.

Lucky shoppers may even see a mango or two on the shelves with the warmer winter weather in the Northern Territory making conditions ripe for an early harvest. Quality is good, but product is expensive and still in very short supply.

Strawberries are plentiful and have not yet been affected by the warmer winter with prices remaining reasonable.

Raspberries remain firmly priced, but blueberries are cheaper and shoppers can expect to see these lines continue to drop steadily as we draw closer to the summer months.

Lemons and limes are expensive and the lemon quality is average. You will find stone fruits such as peaches, nectarines and plums on the shelves, but expect to pay more as these are all imported from the USA.

Rockmelons which were recalled to the Northern Territory have all been removed from Queensland shelves. The product from north Queensland is in good supply, great quality and reasonably priced, as are watermelons and honeydew melons.

Apples and bananas remained firmly priced this week, with navel, cara cara and red oranges are all reasonably priced.

Kiwi fruit from New Zealand is well priced and good quality, but you can pay a little more for the gold variety.