MARKET CITY WEEKLY UPDATE
WHOLESALE MARKET ACTIVITY REPORT | ISSUE 2 | 10 JULY 2015
THIS WEEK...
• The start of school holidays, the
rain and cold weather has kept
trade very steady.
• Biggest movers: apples, citrus
and tomatoes.
• Heavy supplies of small
mandarins were present in the
market as strawberry prices
eased and USA grapes arrived.
• Prices of beans firmed
while cauliflowers eased. All
other vegetable stocks were
adequately supplied.
NEXT WEEK...
Trade may increase as we
approach the second week of
school holidays but only if the
weather is fine and warmer.
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PICK OF THE WEEK
Cara Cara Navels are increasing in
popularity as consumers find their distinctive
pinkish red flesh exceptionally sweet and
slightly tangy.
Low in acid and seedless, these Cara
Cara Navels from Gingin are exceptionally
delicious and in season now.
Oranges are extremely beneficial for the
body. Widely known for their high vitamin
C content, they are and also an excellent
source of dietary fibre, a good source of
Thiamine, Folate and Potassium.
HANDY HINT:
When selecting, look for bright, coloured skin
and feel for firm, heavy in size fruit. Oranges
can be stored at room temperature, in the
refrigerator without plastic bags or in the
crisper drawer for up to two weeks.
For a sweet, less acidic taste, replace lemon
juice with orange juice in salad dressings.
Photo: Harvey’s Groves
FRUIT REPORT (prices quoted are indicative wholesale at Market City during the week)
POME FRUIT
Some excellent local Royal Gala sold up to $54 per carton. Fuji apples also had good colour. Pink Lady
apples sold up to $42 but this price was for only a handful of stocks as most sales were between $24-36
per carton. The best Granny Smiths sold to $42 as did Sundowners. Packham pears sold between $2-2.50/
kg as were Beurre Bosc varieties. Some late Corella pears reached $6/kg on small stocks. Local Fuyu
persimmons finished their season and NZ fruit is due to arrive any day. Pomegranates from Eastern States
and their season is drawing to a close.
CITRUS
Heavy supplies of navels saw the price ease to $20-30 for the best lines and $2.50-3.50 for 3kg bagged
fruit from both local and SA product. Cara Cara navels from Gingin started their season at $3/kg and
their quality and presentation was very good. Imperial mandarins were approaching the end but were still
plentiful, particularly small fruit which was a bit harder to shift. Shelf sizes were in shorter supply. SA fruit
was well represented on our market. Limes eased as more became available selling to $40-50 per carton.
Maturity was variable. Local and QLD lemons were still steady at $35-45 per carton. Ruby grapefruit was
selling for $30-70 per carton with Carnarvon fruit getting the best prices. Fruit from the Ord River, SA and
QLD was also available.
BERRIES
Heavier supplies of local 1st and 2nd year strawberries saw the prices ease to $2-2.40 per punnet. By
Friday, prices fell to $1.60-2.20. Family packs sold for $4-5.50 for the better fruit, and $1.50-2.00 for the
second year crop. Local blueberries were selling for $8 per punnet and the size was excellent. Raspberries
from local growers were also $8 per punnet.
GRAPES
The first USA grapes were Flame Seedless and selling for $10-11/kg. The eating quality was quite good but
the berry size was variable. White seedless will be available by week’s end at $11-12/kg.
MELONS
Seedless watermelon, as anticipated, firmed in price to $1.40-1.60/kg and is expected to go higher still as
demand outstrips a reduced supply due to virus problems in the NT. Long watermelon rose accordingly
to $0.70/kg. Rockmelon and honeydews were both selling up to $24 per tray and both were good quality.
STONE FRUITS
There was a marked improvement in the quality of peaches, nectarines and plums arriving this week from
the USA and an ease in price to $8-10/kg. Cherries were also excellent quality at $13-18/kg from the same
source.
TROPICAL FRUIT & NUTS
Demand for QLD bananas was flat which reflected in the price of $20-28 per carton. Bagged lunchbox fruit
was $27-30 per crate. Local Hass avocados from the Gingin area are in ripening rooms being prepared for
sale early next week. Hass varieties are achieving sales of $50-55 per tray and $65-70 for bulk cartons.
Imported lychees were $16/kg. Passionfruit from QLD eased to $50-60 per carton. Kiwi fruit was steady at
$22-28 per carton for green varieties, and $6-7/kg for gold fruit. Ord River pawpaw sold for $15-25 per tray.
Carambola was $40 per tray. Imported Mexican mangoes sold for $22-26 per tray. Drinking coconut were
in short supply and selling for $20-24 per carton. Prices of pineapples firmed sharply at $40-48 per tray for
Gold and $36-40 per tray for the smooth varieties. Organic walnuts from WA were $11-$14/kg and regular
were $8-$10/kg. Tasmanian were sold between $6.50-8.50/kg in 20kg bags.
END OF FRUIT REPORT
VEGETABLE REPORT (prices quoted are indicative wholesale at Market City during the week)
FRUITING VEGETABLES & CURCUBITS
The bulk of the rain damaged tomatoes from Carnarvon have now been cleared from the market and the
price was steady for both table and Roma tomatoes at $16-20 per carton. Some QLD and SA fruit sold to
$24 (Roma) but the volume was light. QLD product sold to $28-30 and was hard to shift. Cherry and grape
tomatoes were heavily supplied and fair stocks were on hand. Red capsicums were arriving from QLD and
SA and selling for $3-4/kg alongside Carnarvon fruit. Green capsicums were $2-3.50/kg, and yellow varieties
sold for $4-7/kg. Okra was plentiful at $6-8/kg. Eggplant was well supplied and selling for $1-2.50 each.
Angelina eggplant sold for $3-5/kg.
Heavy supplies of Geraldton continental cucumbers saw the prices ease to $0.50-1.20 each with most
sales between $0.60-0.80 each. Hydroponic Lebanese cucumbers from local growers sold as high as $9/kg,
Geraldton fruit sold at $3-5/kg. Hydroponic continental sold up $3 each. Zucchinis were in shorter supply and
selling for $0.50-0.70 each. Gold squash and courgettes were well supplied at $3-4/kg. All pumpkin prices
were steady on good demand but Kent varieties firmed a little to $1.10-1.40/kg.
HERBS, LEAFY & BRASSICA VEGETABLES
Iceberg lettuce steady at $3-7 per crate and difficult to shift in volume. Cos lettuce was selling for $0.50-1.00
each. Silverbeet was $1.20-1.60 per bunch and much better quality. Kale and Tuscan cabbage were well
supplied at $1.40-2.50 per bunch. English spinach was excellent quality and steady at $0.50-0.90 per bunch.
Green cabbage was steady at $8-12 per crate. Savoy cabbage was variable at $15-30 per crate as was red
cabbage at $20-40 per crate. Bunch broccoli was selling from $0.50-0.90 per bunch. Iced broccoli sold from
$16-24 with most sales between $16-20 per carton. Cauliflowers were in better supply and the price eased
to $1.20-1.50 each. The quality was its usual winter standard. Brussels sprouts from both local growers and
SA were selling for $5-6/kg. Heavy supply of Basil and Coriander saw prices steady at $5-8/kg. All parsleys
were selling for $1-2 per bunch dependant on bunch size. Mint was steady at $1.50-2.50 per bunch. Lemon
grass sold for $10-12/kg. Packet herbs were well supplied along with good chives.
ROOT & BULB VEGETABLES
Local celeriac more plentiful and fetching $2-4 each. Beetroot was steady at $2.50-3/kg. Swedes and turnips
were $3-4/kg and steady demand. Parsnips were also steady at $5-6/kg. Potatoes and onions were well
supplied and steady in price, but white onions were short. Demand for peeled red, white and brown onions
still strong. Carrots were steady and bunch carrots were plentiful at $1-1.50 per bunch. Bunch beetroot was
$1-1.60 per bunch. Daikon radish sold for $15-20 per crate. Bunch radish sold for $1.20-1.50 per bunch.
Both green and purple globe artichokes were available from SA and sold between $2.20-2.50 each in cartons
of 20. Fennel bulbs also from SA were $1.50-1.80 each. Some Kohl Rabi sold for $1.20-1.50 each.
LEGUMES & OTHER VEGETABLES
Stringless beans were in shorter supply and the prices firmed up to $6-9/kg for the better lines including
handpicked from QLD and machine picked from Ord River as well as Carnarvon product. Small volume
of Broad beans were steady at $10/kg and selling out daily. Kentucky blue beans sold for $6-9/kg. Local
snow peas were selling for $5-6/kg, and Sugar snaps for $6-8/kg. Mushrooms were steady in price and an
improvement in quality was noticeable. Leeks were heavily supplied selling at $14. Celery was selling for
$1.20-1.60 per bunch. Peruvian asparagus was steady at $15/kg or $2.20 per bunch. Spring onions firmed to
$0.70-1.00 per bunch. Rhubarb was steady at $5-6/kg. All Asian vegetables were steady and good in quality.
This report is provided by the Perth Market Authority (PMA) with information contributed from Market City wholesale tenants,
the Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries WA and an independent researcher contracted by the PMA. Prices quoted are
indicative wholesale prices at Market City during the week. For more information, please contact Nicole Fernandes or Stephen
Ward at the PMA on 9456 9200.
IN
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Sunday Chef
Every Sunday inside Fresh Ideas from 9am - 1pm, the Sunday Community Market Chef cooks up a storm through the
interactive cooking demonstrations using fresh, in season fruit and vegetables giving consumers first hand knowledge on
how to select, cook and store fresh produce.
Come and visit this weekend to experience the flavours of this season with the following recipes:
- Apple & Pear 17th Century Lardy Cake
- Homemade Pickled Bread & Butter Cucumber & Cauliflower
- Creamy White Sweet Potato & Onion Soup
TASTINGS ARE FREE!
Last week’s dishes:
Sweet Winter Mandarin Jam Tart
Roasted Tomato, Fennel & Creamy Mushroom Risotto
Stuffed Mexican Sweet Potato
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
2015
Market City Ball
& Fresh Produce Retailer
of the Year Awards
6:30pm,
Friday 24th July 2015
Grand Ballroom Two,
Crown Casino Complex
Tickets $160 (plus GST)
Contact Chamber of Fruit & Vegetable Industries WA
on 9455 2742
HAVE YOU JOINED
THE FIGHT FOR FLAVOUR?
Give your business a boost!
Join the Great Greengrocer marketing Campaign.
Nicole Fernandes
Marketing & Communications Manager, PMA
9456 9200 | [email protected]
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Retailers on board this year:
Bassendean Fresh
Belmont Market
Bunbury Farmer’s Market
Cannington Fresh Market
Daily Fresh Choice
Di Chiera Bros Continental Store
Domenic’s Fruit and Vegetables
Drovers Garden Glow Fruit & Veg
Erica’s Shed
Farmgate Produce
Farmhouse Fresh
Five Seasons Fresh
Forrest Road Fresh
Fresh Provisions
Geraldton Fruit and Vegetable Supply
Gilbert’s Fresh Market
Gwelup Fruits & More
Hawthorn Fresh
Hills Continental Market
Hills Fresh
Limes Fresh Farmers Market
Marmion St Fresh & Gourmet
Morley Market Fresh
Midland Fresh
Mr Fresh Carine
Napoli Mercato
Newy’s Vegie Patch
North Perth Growers Market
Ocean Keys Fresh
Peaches Fresh Food Market
Rockingham Fresh
Scutti - A Taste of Europe
Swan View Fruit & Veg
The Fruit Basket
The Good Grocer
The Herdsman
The New Benara Fresh Market
Tony Ale Fruit Market
Town and Country Fruit and Veg
Willetton Fresh Market
CONSUMER FEEDBACK
Research company Painted Dog were commissioned in June 2015 to
conduct consumer surveys.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Local & from around the world
Fruit fly outbreak puts mango industry at
risk
WA citrus grower happy with domestic,
tourism market
Western Australia’s mango trade is at risk after
Mediterranean fruit flies were discovered at three
east Kimberley caravan parks.
One citrus grower in WA is not looking to export any
time soon, as the state’s large navel orange growers
prepare to ship overseas for the first time. “We’re a
boutique grower and we supply the premium market.
We also get a lot of tourists and visitors here,” says
Rocco Zampagna, who runs Golden Grove Orchard
together with his wife. “Exporting is fine but we find it’s
usually done at a lower price. We get a lot of people
from all over the world come for our acid free orange
variety, which has different names depending which
country you come from.” That arrangement suits Mr
Zampagna just fine, according to him.
Six male fruit flies were detected in traps at three
Kununurra caravan parks, triggering a 15-kilometre
restriction zone around farms in the Ord River
Irrigation Area.
If the flies are not eradicated by late September,
it could seriously effect the export of mangoes
overseas and interstate, although the Perth market
would be unaffected as the flies are already endemic
in southern WA.
Department of Agriculture and Food plant biosecurity
director John van Schagen said the fruit fly outbreak
could potentially impact WA’s mango trade.
“There’s a national code of practice, which is an
agreement between all the states, that once there’s an
outbreak in an area any produce exported from that,
any host material, requires treatment so that impacts
on the local industry,” he said. “We’re negotiating with
the other states and the Commonwealth Government
in relation to overseas exports.”
In WA, Medfly attack all citrus, except some lemons,
and thin-skinned stone fruit such as apricots,
nectarines and peaches.
“I think mangoes will be coming in the market in
September or October. That’s another two or three
months away, so hopefully we can get on top of the
problem,” Mr van Schagen said.
Click here to read more at abc.net.au.
The Zampagnas do hire seasonal workers, but don’t
need as many as some of the larger orchards that
will be exporting. “We prefer experienced pickers,”
adds Mr Zampagna. The farm makes a living from
visitors and tourists, and supplying high end cafes and
restaurants that are local, Mr Zampagna says. “Golden
Grove visitors must agree to a minimum amount they
will pick when they come to the farm, and a lot of locals
also come to buy top quality produce from the farm
gate,” He adds.
Apart from oranges, the Golden Grove Orchard
produces mandarins (harvested until Christmas time),
grapefruit and other niche varieties of citrus.
Fruit is harvested 12 months of the year on the orchard,
and the biggest issue is usually controlling fruitfly, Mr
Zampagna says. “We bait for fruitfly. It’s been a bit hard
but we’ve managed to control it more easily this year.”
The harvest is looking much better than the previous
one for current crops too, according to Mr Zampagna.
“Last year we had probably our worst year in 37 years,
with only about 30% production. This year we’ve
probably got 70% production.”
For more information visit the Golden Grove Orchard
website: www.goldengroveorchard.com.au