FRESH PRODUCE: BEST IN SEASON

Summer is coming and brings with it a colorful array of fresh produce, delivered to exceptional standards by our hard-working growers. Berries, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and boysenberries are now in season and demand for them will soar in the lead-up to Christmas. Freshly harvested sweetcorn comes to market in December, as does a refreshing summer favorite, watermelon.

Strawberries

New Zealand’s strawberry season hits its peak from mid-November to mid-December with consumer demand escalating, so ensure you have good stock levels available. Strawberries will fly out the door in the week leading up to Christmas. Good volumes are expected over the summer.

What to look for: Strawberries will not ripen once they are harvested, so if they don’t look ripe, they never will be. Select bright red berries with a natural sheen and fresh, green leaves. Avoid those with white tops or tips.

Storage/handling: Strawberries are highly perishable and should be stored and displayed under refrigeration at 0-2°C. The only exception to this is if stock turnover is high.

Potatoes

Potatoes are one of our most popular vegetables. They are available year-round, however new season potatoes are harvested from October to February. They generally have thinner, flakier skins and are best handled gently and eaten fresh rather than stored.

What to look for: Choose potatoes with no cuts, bruises, green patches or shoots. The skin of a new potato is very delicate and should be able to be easily flicked off with your fingers.

Storage/handling: Potatoes should be stored at 7°C in a dark, dry, aerated place. They will sprout if kept above this temperature, and below the starch turns to sugar causing flavour changes.

Summer fruit

Cherries and nectarines kick off the New Zealand summer fruit season in November, with apricots, peaches and plums following in December. The season is relatively short, running until March, with cherries finishing early February. Our three main growing regions – Central Otago, Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay are set for a great season with plenty of beautiful fruit on offer. Consumer demand will be high so ensure you allocate shelf space to accommodate all varieties.

What to look for: Fruit should be plump, wellcoloured, fragrant and unblemished. All summer fruit will continue to ripen once harvested. Cherries are ripe when their skins are shiny and saturated with colour.

HANDLE ALL SUMMER FRUIT WITH GREAT CARE AS THEY ARE DELICATE.

Storage/handling: Handle all summer fruit with great care as they are delicate. Apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums should be kept at room temperature until they are ripe. Cherries can be kept chilled to avoid them losing their quality. Recommend customers buy little and often, then ripen on the bench to give that sweet, succulent eating experience.

Tomatoes

A good volume of tomatoes are available on the local market throughout the summer months with growers offering a large range of varieties, from snacking tomatoes through to larger, tasty tomatoes for all round versatility. Tomato prices are at their best over summer, so great merchandising will entice consumers to buy multiple pack types and varieties.

What to look for: Choose smooth, firm and plump tomatoes with an even colour and no blemishes. Deeply colored tomatoes indicate ripeness and contain the most flavour.

Storage/handling: Tomatoes are susceptible to bruising so only build loose displays a maximum of two layers deep. Never refrigerate them as this can negatively impact flavour.

www.unitedfresh.co.nz