Market Update

What's New and Exciting for February

• Apples – varieties include Pink Lady, Fuji, Royal Gala, Golden Delicious, Jonogold, Jazz, Braeburn and Granny Smith
• Avocado – Hass and Reid will be the 2 varieties available now for spring & summer store ripe avocados in the fridge, use within 1-2 days
• Kiwifruit – Leave at room temp out of direct sunlight until it yields to gentle pressure
• Lemons – The average lemon contains approximately 3 tablespoons of juice
• Limes – Supply of limes will be inconsistent for this month
• Mandarins USA Clemantine –  very sweet and juicy
• Mangoes - In abundance now from Northern Territory
• Melons - Now available with good supply from Western Australia and all varieties are coming into great supply and peak sweetness
  
• Mulberries - Now available from local growers
  
• Oranges Navel – Produced via cutting and grafting, as they contain no seeds to reproduce
• Passionfruit - Ned Kelly variety fruit with a beautiful sweet juicy pulp
• Peaches - Now in the Markets yellow and White
• Pears - All varieties are now available including best eating packham, josephine and honey pears
  
• Rhubarb –Leaves contain poisonous substances that are best discarded in preparation
• Strawberries - Now in their optimum season best variety is Camarosa for sweetness and depth of flavour
• Asparagus - Local asparagus has now started to come into the Markets look for the larger thick spears to have the best full flavour
• Beans - All varieties are now in good supply and to assist your preparation don't forget to order your Topped & Tailed Beans from Gourmand Providore
  
• Beetroot – Juice has been known to lower blood pressure, helping in preventing heart problems
• Beetroot Baby Golden & Target- available in the coming weeks. Best to give us an order for larger volumes in advance
  
• Broccoli – Boiling reduces level of anti-cancer compounds, best to steam
• Cabbage – Boiling tenderizes the leaves and releases its natural sugars
• Carrots –Rich in dietary fibre, antioxidants and minerals with a great variety of Heirloom Baby Carrots available with prior notice
• Cauliflower  - Purple and Green varieties sometimes available throughout the next few months
• Celeriac – Can be used to flavour soups and stews, or on its own as a mash
• Celery -  Provides low-calorie dietary fibre bulk and is a great source of calcium
• Cucumber - Best value Telegraph variety
  
• Fennel and Baby Fennel – Roast, pan-fry or braise, producing mild aniseed-flavour
• Leeks – Can be bunched early when they are the size of a pencil or finger
• Mushrooms - in good supply now with all varieties consistent
  
• Onions – In the classic mirepoix, onion is used with celery and carrot to flavour stocks, soups, stews and sauces
• Parsnips – Richer in vitamins and minerals than it's close relative the carrot
• Potatoes – There are over 5,000 varieties of potato worldwide Kipfler being a great one for salads and roasting
  
• Pumpkin Butternut –Readily available now
  
• Silverbeet – Wash well in cold water, removing stalks and larger ribs of the leaves
• Spinach – Rich source of Vitamin A, C, E, K, calcium, potassium and magnesium
• Swede – Known as a Yellow or Swedish turnip as it’s earliest discovery was by a Swiss Botanist
• Sweet Potato – See recipe archives for hints
• Tomatoes - Now avaiable in abundance coing from North Queensland
  
• Tuscan Cabbage - now available loose in cases or by the bunch
  

  Last updated: February 2012

Gourmand News

• Market Tours - They're on again! A perfect way  to see what is new and currently in season. We take you on a guided tour of the Growers and Agents Markets, showcasing some of the finest fruit and vegetables Sydney Markets has to offer.
• Vegetable Bundles - When writing your next Function Menu, don't forget to include Vegetable Bundles from our range of vibrantly coloured and consistently wrapped parcels of goodness. Ask for a sample today.
  
• Our Kitchen is your kitchen - Did you know that GP has set up a temperature controlled processing room to prepare value-added products for you, our loyal customers? Our Kitchen Staff can cut, slice, dice and peel just about anything you don't have time to.... just ask us!
  

Last Updated: February 2012