ACCE$$ TO A$IA ASIAN VEGETABLES NEWSLETTER Issue No. 2, August 1995 (English Edition)

This is the second issue of ACCE$$ TO A$IA. In the first, we outlined the project and plans for a newsletter. In this newsletter, we are presenting some of our research results for Japanese pumpkin and the market survey information we have been collecting in the wholesale market and retail shops.

RESEARCH NEWS
(Murat Top, Tatura)
In the Goulburn Valley region during the 1994/95 season, field trials were undertaken to evaluate the suitability of a range of Japanese pumpkin varieties for local conditions and market requirements. Thirteen varieties were planted at Dhurringile and Tatura. They were harvested 150-180 days after sowing. Preliminary results show that Kuritomo, Kurikoshi, Kurijiman, Hookou and Sweet Mama are the more promising varieties. The yields ranged from 4.2 kg/plant to 5.2 kg/plant.

*Japanese imports of fresh vegetables ( tonnes ), 1988, 1992-94:

	Japanese Pumpkin	Onion	Asparagus
1988	81 979	112 443	11 926
1992	122 000	35 000	15 045
1993	126 000	61 000	18 300
1994	156 000	206 000	21 270

* G Vinning - Asian Markets Research, Qld.
The Japanese onion import is volatile. It is dependent on the onion yields of two islands in Japan. Asparagus import has been on the increase but the Australian market share has decreased. The price for Australian asparagus however has increased.

• Japanese pumpkin, onion, and asparagus constitute 80% of Japan's imported fresh vegetables.
• About 60% of Japan's Japanese pumpkin comes from New Zealand.
• The Melbourne retail prices for Victorian Japanese pumpkin for the months of April and May averaged between $1.00-$1.95/kg in the Asian grocery shops.
• Queensland Japanese pumpkin in the Melbourne wholesale market averaged between 35 - 40 cents/kg for the month of July.
• Safeway is interested in accessing large quantities of fresh Japanese pumpkin.

DOMESTIC SCENE - Retail and Wholesale Outlets
Chinese chard is one of the more common Asian vegetable readily available in Melbourne. The following graphs are based on surveys of retail and wholesale prices of Chinese chard ( Brassicarapa var chinensis ) also known as bok choy (Cantonese) and cai thuong hai (Vietnamese):

• The average retail price for Chinese chard ranged from $8.50/dec to $12/dec over the last three and a half months. The sudden increase in price of $12/dec for the week in early April was probably due to the heavy rainfall experienced over the preceding two weeks.
• For the months of May and June, there does not appear to be much fluctuation in prices. The average retail prices ranged from $7.70/dec to $10.00/dec. Over the same period , in the wholesale scene, the average price ranged from $6 - $8/dec. In general, the difference in price of Chinese chard in the wholesale market and the retail shops was about $2 - $4/dec.
• Maximum and minimum prices varied considerably from that of the average with the difference directly related to the quality of the vegetable.
• Growers report Chinese chard is relatively easy to grow. Pests such as slugs, snails and cabbage caterpillars ( including cabbage white butterfly and diamond back moth ) however can be a problem.
• Seeds for Chinese chard is available from Fairbanks Selected Seed (03-96894500), Henderson Seed (03-98502266), S & G Seeds (03-97063033) and Arthur Yates (008-224428).

Did you know that?

In every 100g of Chinese Chard, there are

• 96 g of water
• 1.1 g protein
• 0.1 g fat
• 2 g carbohydrates
• 86 mg calcium
• 27 mg phosphorus
• 1.2 mg iron
• 1.03 mg carotene
• 0.03 mg vitamin B1
• 0.08 mg vitamin B2
• 0.6 mg niacin and
• 36 mg vitamin C