The sweet rewards of summer arrive

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 6, 2000

[Photo: Zespri] Kiwi goes gold: A new variety of kiwifruit is fuzzless on the outside and golden on the inside.

Berries red, blue and blushing yellow will vie for attention in produce departments this month. Some markets may even carry an exotic new kiwifruit, fuzzless on the outside and golden on the inside.

B.J. Thurlby of Northwest Cherry Growers in Washington is betting that cherries from his part of the world will be big sellers in Florida.

"The consumption numbers in 1995 were about 800 tons of cherries for Florida ... from the Northwest. Last year, Florida was up to 1,800 tons, so there has been quite an increase," Thurlby said.

There are several reasons for the increased interest, he said. One is that growers now know how to ensure that the cherries travel well.

Still, cherries from the Northwest could be a little more expensive this year. The medium-sized harvest is being stretched to meet growing worldwide demand, Thurlby said.

"We are the only people who have them during this time of year. We are trying as an industry to give everybody some," he said.

Supermarkets generally will carry bing cherries, the familiar dark red fruit. Rainier cherries, on the other hand, distinctive for their yellowish color and pink blush, are not carried by all stores.

The delicate Rainier cherries are more expensive to pick and, unlike bing cherries, are hand-packed. Consequently, they cost at least a dollar more per pound than their cousins, Thurlby said.

July also is a big month for blueberries. This time of year, some of the fruit will come from Georgia and North Carolina, but most will be shipped from New Jersey, the nation's biggest supplier of fresh blueberries.

Mark Villata, executive director of the North American Blueberry Council, said this year's harvest has been good.

July also will bring a new kiwifruit from New Zealand. Importation of Zespri gold kiwifruit, named after its grower, began last year, said Michael Marks, marketing director for J.C. Produce Inc. in California.

Marks said the new variety of kiwifruit has "a quirky beak at one end, is fuzzless and then when you slice it, it's a beautiful golden color as opposed to the emerald green."

The flavor also is good, he said.

"To me, it has a richer flavor, a more intense flavor than the regular kiwifruit. It looks like the sun. It's absolutely gorgeous," he said.

But shoppers will pay a price for this new beauty, which will cost more than regular kiwifruit. Look for the new kiwifruit in grocery stores about July 17.

Produce

In season in July are apricots, beans, blueberries, cantaloupes, carrots, cherries, sweet corn, cucumbers, grapes, honeydews, mangoes, nectarines, okra, peaches, peas, bell peppers, plums, tomatoes, summer squash and watermelons.

Best buys: sweet corn.

Peak of the season: peaches and nectarines.

Shopping, storage tips

Cherries: Buy plump, shiny fruit with green stems and store in the refrigerator.

Blueberries: To get the best blueberries, make sure they are firm, dry and plump. Their skin should be smooth and a deep purple-blue to blue-black color. Do not buy blueberries in containers with juice stains or soft, watery fruit. Dehydrated, wrinkled berries also should be avoided. Blueberries can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Wash just before using. Unwashed, dry berries can be frozen.

Seafood

Amberjack and varieties of domestic grouper and snapper will be some of the specialties available this month, according to Dale Mastry of Mastry's, 1700 Fourth St. S.

"We've got a pretty good supply of grouper right now. Prices have been depressed pretty much," he said. "The tourists have gone back and the restaurants are ordering less."

Imports from Mexico also are responsible for falling prices, Mastry said.

Referring specifically to the domestic fish, Mastry said whole red grouper will sell for around $3.99 a pound. Whole black grouper will sell for about $4.99 a pound, while fillets will cost about $10.95 to $12.95 a pound.

Mango snapper, which has a similar appearance to red snapper, probably can be bought for $3.99 to $4.99 a pound whole, Mastry said.

"It doesn't get the publicity of red snapper, but I would say it is just as tasty," he said.

Hog snapper, which is caught mostly by divers who spear fish, is quite good, Mastry said.

"In most people's opinion, it's probably the best snapper. It has real white meat, just a beautiful texture. It is a different looking fish. It has a long nose."

Hog snapper will probably sell for $3.99 to $4.99 a pound whole, Mastry said, adding that fillets of both hog and mango snapper should be available for $10.95 to $12.95 a pound.

Amberjack, which Mastry said is excellent for grilling since it does not fall apart during cooking, will cost around $6.99 a pound for fillets.

Sheepshead and mullet continue to be inexpensive. Expect to pay about $1.49 a pound for whole mullet and $1.79 a pound for whole sheepshead.

The price of shrimp will remain high.

"I am sure it has to do with the cost of fuel," Mastry said. "Those guys use a lot of fuel, and from what I've heard from them, the production is not there."

Mastry says large Key West pink shrimp, 26 to 30 shrimp a pound, will sell around $9.95 a pound or three pounds for $27. Jumbo Key West pink shrimp, 10 to 15 shrimp per pound, will cost about $13.95 a pound or $38 for three pounds.

A key factor governing seafood supply in the next few months will be the weather, Mastry said. Bad weather will keep boats close to home and raise prices, he said.

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