AN AUSSIE Christmas is on the cards for many local families, with fresh seafood swimming out of shop-front doors.
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Two tonnes of prawns, thousands of local pacific oysters and Sydney rock oysters, and 100kg of crabs, will be some of the seafood wrapped up and ready to go for local customers of the Hastings River Fishermen’s Co-operative.
“People are having more of a traditional Aussie Christmas,” Fishermen’s Co-op employee Kerrie Bull. “They can’t be bothered cooking, especially when it’s getting so hot. Seafood is easier and it’s the Aussie way.”
Medium king prawns seemed to be the favourite, but lobsters, mudcrabs and, of course, plenty of oysters were popular orders at this time of year.
Meanwhile, sweet, juicy and firm fruits should also be making a star appearance on Christmas tables this season, with fruit-lovers reaping the benefits of a dry season. Ken Little owner of Ken Little’s Fruit and Veg said
Australian summer favourites were looking better than ever.
“There’s been a 500 per cent improvement on last year in flavour, quality and price,” Mr Little said.
Growers Market owner Mike Cusato could not agree more: “It’s definitely a good year for fruit salad,” he said. “A couple of Chrissie’s have been wet, but we’ve had a good dry season and the drier the better for all stone fruits.”
Mr Little said cherries were the stand-out fruit this season, with a delicious taste and texture perfect to compliment any fruit platter.
“The nectarines are really good too, and we’ve got our peaches from Forbes – they’re always a better tasting fruit.”
At the Growers Market the best fruits have been sourced from all over the country, as far south as Tasmania and as far north as the Northern Territory.
“We’ve got a really good line of stone fruits from Dubbo all starting Christmas week,” Mr Cusato said.
When it comes to the main course it seems there are still some locals opting for a heartier Christmas meal.
Munster Street Quality Meats should offload some 300 hams.
Owner Greg Middleton said despite the heat there is still a large number who love their traditional Christmas feast and Neil Richardson, of Waniora Butchery, agreed.
He said those wanting some quality meet before Christams should get in quick, especially with turkeys that would soon be impossible.
almost impossible to source.