It’s great to be finally getting some Warmer Weather !
The extra heat and longer days have got the market buzzing as the 2024 stone fruit season kicks off.
- We don’t normally see cherries until after the Melbourne Cup but this year cherries and apricots have landed early thanks to the dry end to winter and the warmer weather in northern Victoria.
- Cherries tend to crop heavily every second or third year so I predict we will see lots of high quality and affordable cherries hitting the shelves at Watts Fresh this season.
- Apricots have also started early. While the early varieties are ok, later varieties have much more flavor so don’t rush in and be disappointed with early season fruit. Keep in mind that stone fruit season moves rapidly with growers picking different varieties each week.
- We try hard to find you fresh fruit that has not been kept too long in a cool store(storage destroys the flavor of stone fruit), fruit that is juicy and has a high brix (sugar) reading that indicates ripeness and will determine flavor and eating quality. Now is the time to start thinking about making your apricot jam for this season. As I said stone fruit season moves quickly so it won’t be long until jam cots are available. Peaches and nectarines are also eating very well.
- Mango season has also kicked off with Calypso, R2E2 and Kensington Pride varieties all offering great flavor and this year the extra supply should see prices being slightly below last year.
- A few lines have actually shortened up in supply. Passionfruit, limes and beans have seen a jump in price this week due to very low numbers coming into the market. I expect to see lime supply increase but Lemons will most likely rise steadily in price until at least Christmas. Navel oranges are coming to an end and we already have good supply of Australian Velencias.
- Berries are looking great with Victorian strawberries delivering great quality and flavor once again. Blueberries and raspberries have also been excellent value for money. (this week just $2.99 a punnet on the composite and smaller graded fruit).
Fruitfully Yours, Dean
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