Autumn weather conditions have yet to hit the cropping regions with some fruit and vegetable prices remaining firm as the prolonged hot and rainy weather takes its toll on some fresh produce.
In the vegetable line, expect to pay firm prices for average quality beans, which are expected to rise in price as less are harvested. You will also pay firm prices for quality cabbage, celery, fennel, leeks, parsnips, snow peas, silverbeet, squash and sweet corn.
Broccoli has reduced from expensive to a firm price as more good quality supplies have reached the Brisbane Produce Market, with prices expected to drop further.
Bargain hunters can find cheap pumpkin and value-for-money, good quality Asian vegetables, imported and Australian asparagus, beetroot, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, capsicum, carrots, eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, potatoes and sweet potatoes.
Most salad lettuce varieties are heat affected so you will pay top prices for good quality lettuce heads or take the option of buying reasonably priced mixed leaf salad to green your meals.
Lebanese cucumbers have firmed in price and avocados remain costly. The best quality and priced salad buys are tomatoes, cucumber and a full variety of herbs.
Now is the time to taste and cook fruits that are not always available, with stocks of Australian pomegranate, dragon fruit, rosellas, star fruit, persimmons, custard apples and the guava-like feijoa, which is grown in northern NSW, now in season.
This week's best fruit buys are bananas, lemons, limes, valencia oranges, rockmelon and watermelon and in season royal gala apples.
Expect to pay firm prices for most quality apples, poor quality berries, end of season grapes, figs, imported kiwi fruit, pears, pineapples, passionfruit and pawpaw.
The first of the mandarins have arrived but are at their best eating after the first cold snap of the season to sweeten their taste.
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