As autumn sets in, it’s time to bid goodbye to summer fruits like mangoes, peaches, and nectarines, making way for the delightful abundance of capsicums, cabbage, and potatoes. Now is the perfect time to enjoy red and white grapes, which are readily available and offer exceptional value at around $4 to $5 per kilo, according to Pat Senserrick from Senserrick’s Fruit and Flowers in Keilor, Melbourne. These grapes can be savoured chilled or incorporated into dishes like roasted grape salad with cheese and walnuts.
New season apples are on the horizon, promising a variety of choices including Pink Ladies, Granny Smiths, Galas, and Jazz apples. Apples are versatile and can brighten up recipes like apple, spelt, and almond cake or sticky toffee apple cake, perfect for the cooler months. While the finest stone fruits are wrapping up for the season, quality blood plums are still available.
The inventory of southern state mangoes is dwindling, currently priced at $3.50 each, albeit they may not be the most visually appealing. Banana quality is subpar due to recent crop damage, and the prices of berries have crept up to approximately $4 per punnet, with strawberries becoming a rarer find.
Crops such as tomatoes, capsicums, and leafy greens are thriving, according to Meng Sun from Sun’s Fresh Farm in Sydney. Capsicums are particularly affordable at about $4 a kilo, ideal for stuffing with fillings like pork, tomatoes, and breadcrumbs. Cabbage is another abundant option, suitable for making homemade kimchi, which can be used in a variety of dishes.
As we transition into soup season, prices for broccoli and cauliflower have risen to around $7.50 a kilo and $6 a head, though Senserrick expects prices to normalise soon. Corn, celery, and pumpkin are more budget-friendly choices this March, with celery being perfect for a comforting soup packed with thyme and parsley.
Despite continuing high prices for avocados, with Hass varieties at $3.50 each, there’s still some relief with green-skinned Shepards available at better prices in select stores. Tomato prices are also shifting, with truss tomatoes climbing to $8 a kilo, yet roma and gourmet varieties remain accessible at approximately $6 a kilo, perfect for sauces or dishes like smashed green falafel flatbreads.
To summarise:
Buy: Apples, Cabbage, Capsicum, Celery, Corn, Grapes, Herbs, Pears, Pumpkin, Plums, Potatoes, Spinach
Watch: Avocados, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Tomatoes
Avoid: Beans, Cucumbers, Peaches, Nectarines
As the change in the season unfolds, embrace the wonderful offerings that autumn brings to your kitchen.