It's a special time of year - for getting a bargain on berries. Photo: CRISTINA PEDRAZZINI/SCIENCE PHOT
If you've been tasked by the extended family with gathering the vegetables for the Christmas Day feast, here's some good news: a lot of it won't be as expensive as it was a couple of weeks ago.
First Up's 'minister for fresh fruit and veggies' Glenn Forsyth says the "good fortune" extends to those wanting to get stuck into some locally grown fruit too.
Starting with vegetables, Forsyth said Jersey Benne potatoes were "hot" right now, as prices for cauliflower and broccoli had peaked and would now fall.
"However, best buys on greens this weekend stays with your green cabbage, silverbeet, spinach and lettuce. Asparagus, that's in the home straight and firming in values.
"And green capsicums, they are also in shorter supply, but that is okay as red and yellow capsicums, they are well supplied, along with cherry tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, beaut new season New Zealand round beans - gee, they've come on - and courgettes. Courgettes are yummy in fritters, you know, and after grating them though, squeeze dry in a towel just to avoid soggy fritters.
"But the big, big mover down in price this week goes to sweetcorn… A few weeks these puppies were $4 each - spotted in some stores yesterday however, four for $5 now. It's come early, and this is the first time in several years that LeaderBrand will be planting and harvesting corn in the same week."
Forsyth had some tips on how to get the best corn.
"When buying corn, look for husks that are reasonably dark green, cobs that are full around and check that kernels go all the way to the top and that the tassels are a golden brown.
"They're full of antioxidants, great for gut health and a good source of fiber, folate and vitamin C - and kids love them if they don't have braces."
While that was all "good news" for veggie lovers, Forsyth said we should "fasten our seatbelts on fruit as the news gets even better, starting with berries".
"Even raspberries fell 30 percent in value this week, and plenty of blackberries and blueberries. Enjoy lower-priced strawberries this weekend before Christmas week ruins that, and a good time to buy extra to freeze some New Zealand ones of your own.
"With this recent rain… always check the bottoms of berry punnets to check that no juice is appearing. So, the last of the USA grapes are here with some Peru to complement supply and USA lemons and Vietnam limes, they're available to take over from our season.
"But on citrus, the impressive New Zealand Valencia Summer Kiss orange - quite a mouthful - is available now though. And a spurt of green kiwifruit, lots of avocados, Aussie mangoes and lychees. And if you can wait just a few more days, a fresh shipment of Dole tropical gold pineapples will be here early next week."
Fans of stone fruit might want to hold out.
"Peaches in general are still tight - plums, nectarines and apricots, they're all in better supply and we have plenty of their respective best eating varieties to come yet.
"Cherries, Hawke's Bay and Marlborough - they're in the thick of it with the powerhouse Central Otago underway next week, most of the growers they're picking on Monday, bang on for Christmas."
Glenn Forsyth's fruit of the week is watermelon - specifically New Zealand watermelon grown in the Far North. Photo: 123rf
The fruit of the week he declared to be watermelon - specifically New Zealand watermelon grown in the Far North.
"Watermelon sweetness is measured by bricks count, which you know, is the sugar content. So 10 is standard and 11 to 12 is sweeter again. Some yesterday we tested were hitting 11. It is the first time for a few years we have had watermelon before Christmas, and the early ones are generally striped, red fleshed and seeded, but internally they're very strong.
"Now it does bode well for a January full of New Zealand watermelon."
As for how to serve it, he had some suggestions.
"John Reed of Reed's Farm in the Far North loves the simple approach. Cut in dice, chill in a container in the fridge, then hoover with a fork - or a very easy and refreshing slushy smoothie he makes with just Charlie's old-fashioned lemonade watermelon and ice.
"Here's a strange one: chili powder on cubed watermelon. Apparently one specifically called tajin is quite the pairing. It has chili powder, lime and sea salt."
