Notes from the Green Grocer -- Jan. 24, 2006

"As much a household staple as onions or potatoes, celery is valued for its crisp texture and distinctive flavor. It is widely used as an appetizer, a salad ingredient, and a flavorful addition to many cooked dishes. A bunch or head of celery is made up of individual stalks or ribs. These ribs are naturally crisp due to the rigidity of the plant's cell walls and the high water content within the cells. In fact, celery is mostly water and therefore exceptionally low in calories, making it a first-rate snack food for people trying to control their weight. Although it is not especially high in nutrients (largely because of its high water content), it does have a respectable amount of potassium."

More about Celery from Whole Earth Foods. . .

TOMATO UPDATE: Two Layer Repack Tomatoes and Loose Tomatoes: Supplies are much improved; prices have tumbled since last week. Cherry Tomatoes: Prices are down again this week. Roma Tomatoes: Supply is short especially on anything ripe; prices are up and should continue upwards. Yellow Tomatoes: Supplies are extremely short to impossible; prices will be high if we can find anything. Grape Tomatoes: Growers are packing most of their product in clamshells; loose grapes are short. Teardrops: Supplies are good and prices are still high. Heirloom Tomatoes: Mixed heirlooms are still available; price and quality are unchanged.

FRESH FRUITS: Apricots: Both New Zealand and Chilean are available; quality is excellent. California Haas Avocados: No change in prices; quality is very good. Cherries: Good supplies of Chilean Bings and Raniers are still available; prices are good. Cantaloupes: Supply is short; quality is good; prices are edging back up. Honeydews: Prices are up slightly. Watermelon: Quality is not very good; prices are high. Mixed Melons: Charantais and Crenshaw melons are now available. Green and Red Grapes: Still using California crimsons; Chilean flames, perlettes, and Thompson seedless are good; prices are easing up on Chilean fruit. Oranges: Texas Valencia’s are still the best for juicing; California navels are excellent for garnish; Blood Oranges: Good supplies are available now. Grapefruit: Texas Rio stars are very good. Limes: Rain and cold in Mexico is causing a high market; prices are off marginally. Hawaiian Papayas: Supplies are good; prices are unchanged. Nectarines and Peaches: Chilean stone fruit quality is good and prices are unchanged; white flesh peaches are available and the quality is excellent. Plums: Both red and black are in the market now. There are good supplies of Apples, Gold Kiwi’s, Mangoes, Pomegranates, and Pears . . .

FRESH VEGETABLES:  Artichokes: Castroville chokes still have frost damage; availability of 18 – 36 count chokes is good but loose artichokes are very short. Asparagus: Prices came down last week but standard asparagus is short and should rebound later this week, better deals are available on large and jumbo sizes. Bok Choy and Napa Cabbage: Supplies are good; prices are low. Blue Lake Beans: Supplies are very good and demand is slow; prices are down. Broccoli: Cool weather is causing big supply problems; prices are up and should continue to rise. Cauliflower: Cold weather has slowed growth; supply is short and prices are up. Cabbage: Green is lower; red cabbage price is up again. Celery: Prices remain low. Cucumbers: Supplies are better; prices have leveled off. Eggplant: No change; prices are low. Red Onions: No change in prices. Yellow Onions: No changes to report. White Onions: Prices are unchanged. Kale, Curly Parsley and Italian Parsley: Supplies are good; prices are lower. Green Bell Peppers: Prices are down in spite of light supplies. Red and Gold Bell Peppers: Prices are the same as last week; quality is good. Squash: Gold Zucchini: Quality is much improved; supplies are better; prices have leveled off. Yellow Straightneck: Prices are up sharply; cold weather is making it short. Green Zucchini: Cool weather is causing prices to head back up. French Haricot Vert Beans: Demand is very poor; prices are low. Yellow Wax Beans: Supplies are better; prices are down too. Baby Squashes: Demand remains slow; prices are cheap. There are good supplies of Chard, Carrots, China Peas, Hard Squashes, Sweet Potatoes and Yams...

As with all fresh fruits and vegetables, the market could change daily . . .

Further description of all the fruits and vegetables mentioned above can be found at Whole Health Foods and Wegman's Online Produce Encylopedia.


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