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Published Weekly
March 8th 2010
 

THIS WEEK : Fruit of the Week Salustiana Oranges belong to the same family as Blood Oranges - they’re blood relatives, you could say. However, except for particularly hot, dry years, they possess only slight (if any) traces of red. They’re nonetheless deliciously sweet, and infused with a refreshing smack of citric acid. Soft-fleshed and easy to peel, The Prof reckons these to be one of the best fruits of the week for quite some time. A favourite of Alex-the-Buyer (remember him?), dark-red-skinned, golden-fleshed Laeticia Plums have acquired real richness and intensity since their mention in last week’s Report. As with plums generally, their flavour can be best appreciated when they’re at room temperature. For more plum facts see this week’s Veggiepedia. Despite the quality of White Seedless Grapes being somewhat erratic, large, dark, globular South African Sunreds continue to be of a consistently high standard. English Russet and Cox’s Apples and English Comice Pears are still going strong and still tasting superb.

English Curly Kale is plentiful again, although to ensure freshness it’s best to avoid ordering it for a Monday delivery because UK farmers rarely harvest at weekends. Kentish Red Polymids are small Desiree Potatoes which come packaged in 5kg plastic sacks (hence the ‘poly’ prefix). They tend to be slightly larger than regular mids, making them ideal for mini-jackets, or halving and roasting or halving and boiling in their skins. Dutch Red Onions are hot and sweet and roughly the same price per kilo as Large White Onions.


English Banana and Round Shallots are superb, as are English Savoy Cabbages. There are a few Kentish Cauliflowers around, but they’re pricey and the quality is only so-so.

PRODUCT ALERT: A continuation of high winds and heavy rains in Spain and France is causing further damage to field crops and leaving in their wake countless numbers of demolished or destroyed growing-tunnels and glasshouses. News reports from March 1st speak of hurricane force winds and torrential rains battering parts of mainland Europe. A storm which broke in France and regarded as substantial enough to be given a name, Xynthia, was described as the worst to have hit the country in the last 20 years. Apart from the human cost, which has been immense, the negative impact on the price and availability of certain produce resulting from such adverse conditions will be considerable. Already scarce and expensive Spinach (pre-packed especially), Lettuces, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Courgettes and Aubergines and Marrows will become progressively even scarcer and undoubtedly even more expensive. Holland, Germany and the UK have also been affected, albeit to a lesser degree. Here at home another bout of wet weather followed by frosts threatens to further delay many spring and summer crops. The current crop of Lincolnshire Cauliflowers was virtually wiped-out during the cold spell of December-January. More recently, they’ve been unable to transplant the heads in order to be ready for early April. Consequently, they’re unlikely to come on stream until early May, which will keep prices high. There are also delays in the availability of Spanish Peas and Broad Beans, as well as Jersey Royal Potatoes, which in previous years would have made an appearance by now. Other news concerns quality issues last week regarding South African Thompson Green Seedless Grapes which have prompted us to switch to Argentine Imperials (see THIS WEEK above). Limes are in short supply and pricey. Lychees are coming to the end and their quality depreciating fast, therefore avoid.

 
 

Veggiepedia

Plum

The Plum or Gage (Prunus domestica) is a member of the Rose family (Rosaceae), whose other members include Cherries and Peaches. The plum tree grows to approx 5-7 metres high, has greenish-white blossoms, is pollinated by bees and sheds its leaves in autumn. The plum is native to China, America, Europe and the Caucuses.  Ancient Greek texts mention cultivated varieties having been imported into Greece from Syria. The fruit was introduced to Northern Europe by the Romans. There are today in excess of 200 cultivars belonging to four main types of plum - the European plum, the Japanese plum, the Damson and the Myrobalan or ‘Cherry Plum’

Attributes

Plums come in a variety of sizes and firmnesses of texture. Their flesh can be yellow, white, green or red in colour, with skins of equally varying hues. The skins of mature plums often acquire a dusty-white, translucent waxy coating, giving them a bluish-grey or green patina known as "wax bloom". Dried plums are usually referred to merely as prunes, although, historically, prunes were a distinct type of plum that may have pre-dated the fruits that we now refer to as plums. Prunes were traditionally sun-dried whilst on the tree, but nowadays are mostly dried in gas-heated forced air-tunnels. As well as containing substantial amounts of vitamin C, plums are an excellent source of vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and fibre. Plums are high in carbohydrates, low in fat and low in calories. Plums are also free of sodium and cholesterol.

 

 

The Good, The Bad & The Indifferent
Prices indicated are for general guidance only and based on information gathered by our buyer in an attempt to reflect market trends. Please be aware, however, that their influence on current prices may not be immediate and cannot be guaranteed.

 FRUIT  VEGETABLES  SALADS

Price Product Rating Price Product Rating Price Product Rating
££ APPLES 4 £££ ARTICHOKES 4 £ AVOCADOS 3
££ BANANAS 4 ££ ASPARAGUS 4 ££ CELERY 3
££ CLEMS / SATS 3 £££ AUBERGINES 3 ££ CHICORY 4
££ FIGS FRESH 3 ££ BEANS EX FINE 3 ££ CORN SALAD 3
££ GRAPEFRUIT 3 ££ BROCCOLI 5 £££ CUCUMBER 3
££ GRAPES/SLESS 4 £ CAB SAVOY/GRN 4 £££ FRISEE 3
£ KIWIFRUIT 4 ££ CABBAGE WHITE 3 ££ LETTUCE COS 3
££ LEMONS 4 £ CARROTS 3 £££ LETTUCE ICEB’G 3
££ LIMES 3 £££ CAULIFLOWER 3 ££ LETTUCE ROUND 3
££ LYCHEES 1 £££ COURGETTES 4 ££ LOLLO ROSSO 3
£ MANGOES 3 ££ LEEKS 3 ££ OAKLEAF 3
££ MELON H’DEW 3 ££ MANGE TOUT 3 ££ PARSLEY 4
££ MELONS GALIA 3 ££ MUSHROOMS 4 ££ PEPPERS 4
£££ NECTARINES 3 ££ ONIONS 3 ££ RADICCHIO 3
££ ORANGES 4 ££ PARSNIPS 3 ££ RADISHES 4
£ PEACHES 3 £ POTATO JKTS 3 ££ ROQUETTE 3
££ PEARS 4 ££ POTATO MIDS 3 ££ SPRING ONIONS 4
££ PINEAPPLES 4 £££ SPINACH 4 £££ TOMATOES 3
££ PLUMS 4 ££ SWEDES 4 £££ TOMS CHERRY 3
££ STRAWBERRIES 3 ££ TURNIPS 4 ££ WATERCRESS 3
 

SHORTAGES/QUALITY ISSUES MUST BE REPORTED BY 9:00AM

 

Fruit of the Week

For Point Of Sale info on this week’s Fruit of the Week,

Salustiana Oranges

contact   

carmel@4degreesc.com

 

 

March Fruit Bowl

March is one of the trickiest months for the fruit bowl maker. Cape Peaches and Nectarines become scruffy, woolly-textured and eventually, un-buyable. Apricots and Cherries will finish just as the month starts. By the end of the month, even Plums become bland, although they should continue to look okay for a while. Using Dried Apricots, powdered Dried Figs and Prunes adds interest, and if you can afford it, incorporate Toffee (Medjool) Dates, too. Grapes will start the month well, but may show signs of deterioration by the end. Clementines and Satsumas will finish, so you’ll have to choose between Mineolas and Ortalinas (AKA Mandoras and Ortaniques). Apples will remain good and there will be a fair selection available. Pears look like being difficult this March as both the northern and southern hemisphere seasons have been hit by bad weather. Tropical and exotic fruits available in March include Pomegranates, Kiwis, Sharonfruit, Dragon Fruits Grenadillos, Passionfruit, Tamarillos, Rambutans and occasional Kiwanos and Babacos.