Fresh Food Club - What's in season?

Celebrate the season with a burst of citrus goodness as Imperial, Afourer and Daisy mandarins are now available. These delightful mandarins offer vibrant flavours and juicy sweetness.

From tart to sweet, crisp to juicy, there's a perfect apple for every taste preference now in season. With such a diverse array of apple varieties to choose from, you can embark on a delightful journey of flavours, enjoying these seasonal delights in everything from pies and tarts to salads and snacks.

Tangerine-coloured sweet persimmon, also known as Fuyu, is delightful, eaten crunchy or extra soft.

Whether enjoyed as a nourishing breakfast, a refreshing snack, or a simple dessert, bananas bring a touch of sweetness to your diet. This week creamy Queensland bananas are a great buy.

Australia's apple season is in full swing, and a fabulous range of apples is available at your local greengrocer. Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Kanzi, Jazz, Royal Gala, Bravo, Rocket, Mi, and Pink Lady are firm and crunchy.

Pomegranates are increasingly being recognised as a rich source of antioxidants and adored for their dynamic ruby-coloured nectar and jewel-like arils.

Packham and Beurre Bosc pears offer fabulous flavour and excellent value. Whether you're craving a tasty salad or a tender, syrup-infused dessert, pears are ideal for enjoying hot or cold.

Avocados season is hotting up as we say goodbye to the Shepard variety and hello to the Hass and extra-large Avozilla. The Avozilla is considered the largest avocado in the world, weighing up to 2 kilograms per fruit, but on average, around 1kg

Whether you choose to steam, roast, grill, or stir-fry them, cauliflowers offer a blank canvas for a wide range of flavours and seasonings. With its versatility and numerous health benefits, snow-white cauliflower is an excellent choice this week. For a delicious side dish, try roasting cauliflower florets with olive oil, garlic, and your favourite spices until they turn golden brown and develop a lovely caramelised flavour.

Enjoy the versatility and deliciousness of fresh machine-harvested green beans from Queensland. These beans are tasty and provide great value

Brussels sprouts are back in season and more affordable this week. Choose tightly-closed Brussels sprouts that are no larger than a ping pong ball. Look for bright green crisp leaves with a pleasant fresh aroma. Cook Brussels sprouts rapidly so they retain their colour, flavour and beneficial nutrients.

Fresh chestnuts, in season until late July, offer a unique nutty flavour after cooking and shelling chestnuts. They are superb added to 2oups and stews, they add a rich, nutty flavour. They work particularly well with creamy vegetable soups (like mushrooms, pumpkin, and cauliflower) or hearty meat stews. When cooked, their flesh turns soft and tender. Look for chestnuts with firm, glossy brown shells that feel heavy for their size. Certain varieties are easier to peel than others

Versatile eggplants, when cooked, offer a mild flavour and a delightful melt-in-the-mouth texture. They pair well with tomatoes, pesto, cheese, and herbs and let's not forget the magic that happens when eggplants meet the aromatic allure of garlic. Incorporate cooked eggplant slices into pasta dishes, use them as pizza toppings or sandwich fillings, or stuff them with Moroccan-flavoured lamb mince and bake until soft.

Kumara or orange sweet potato is delicious to eat and ideal for roasting or mashing. Roast chopped orange sweet potato with red onion wedges in olive oil flavoured with cumin and coriander for 30 minutes or until tender. Mashed kumara is a delicious and vibrant coloured topping for cottage pie. Serve with lamb or beef.

Let the natural sweetness of butternut pumpkin shine in a nourishing and satisfying bowl of homemade pumpkin soup.

Embrace the vibrant green goodness of broccoli; it pairs well with a wide range of ingredients. You can combine it with lemon zest and Parmesan cheese for a zesty and cheesy side dish. Toss it with pasta, cherry tomatoes, and olive oil for a simple and satisfying meal. Mix broccoli florets into tray bakes, casseroles, soups, or stir-fries to add a healthy and flavourful element.

Elevate your stir-fries and salads with the versatile charm of celery. This humble vegetable brings a delightful crunch, vibrant colour, and a burst of flavour to your culinary creations.

Super-nutritious leafy green kale offers so much goodness. Kale is loaded with beneficial antioxidants, vitamins and iron. Toss the trimmed leaves into stir-fries, frittatas, soups and smoothies. Finely shred kale to add to salad bowls.