Market fresh Report - Week Ending December 21st

Berries are superb this season, with extra-large strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and red currants all in good supply. Buy berries to enjoy straight away, as they’re highly perishable in warm weather. Team berries with your panettone for an easy and delicious festive dessert.

White and yellow-fleshed peaches and nectarines are now in excellent supply, with quality improving by the week as the season hits its stride. Fruit is larger, more aromatic and beautifully juicy, with yellow-fleshed fruit offering a classic sweet-tangy flavour, while white-fleshed varieties are prized for their delicate sweetness and low acidity. Enjoy them fresh, sliced into salads, or grilled for an easy summer dessert—just handle ripe stonefruit gently and allow firmer fruit to ripen at room temperature for the best eating

Bursting with juiciness and floral sweetness, fresh lychees are a true seasonal treat. Store them in a sealed bag in the refrigerator to maintain freshness. For an easy summer dessert, pair chilled lychees with ripe mango and fresh mint for a refreshing finish

Local sweetcorn is now in season and wonderfully fresh. Enjoy whole cobs simply boiled or barbecued, or slice off the kernels to toss through salads, fritters and salsas for a pop of sweetness and colour.

Versatile and nutritious broccoli is a good buy this week. Add blanched broccoli florets to a salad or stir-fry.

Tender, quick-cooking broccolini is perfect for summer meals—steam, grill, stir-fry or roast.

Plump, glossy cherries are the quintessential taste of an Australian summer. With fruit arriving from Young, Orange, South Australia and Victoria, there’s a wide choice of sizes, flavours and price points. Enjoy them fresh, roast to serve alongside turkey or ham, or scatter through festive salads.

Sweet, juicy mangoes are in abundant supply and offering excellent value this season. Choose firm fruit with a fragrant tropical aroma, then allow to ripen at room temperature until they gently yield near the stem

Plump, new-season figs have arrived and are eating beautifully. Enjoy them fresh, paired with prosciutto and cheese, or baked into desserts.

Boost the flavour of your festive dishes with fresh, aromatic herbs. Scatter thyme sprigs over roasted vegetables, fold sage and parsley through festive stuffings, or serve fragrant basil leaves with extra virgin olive oil, sliced heirloom tomatoes, burrata and black olives for an effortless summer side.

For a vibrant, fresh crunchy salad, choose from refreshing Lebanese cucumbers, classic Telegraph cucumbers, or baby cucumbers or Qukes. Ideal for easy entertaining. Roughly chop and toss with feta, dill, a squeeze of lemon and a splash of olive oil for a fresh, crowd-pleasing salad.

Crisp and refreshing Cos lettuce is a summer essential for Caesar salads, wraps and sandwiches. Another option is the popular choice - crunchy and versatility Iceberg lettuce

Don’t overlook juicy tangy limes, which add brightness to seafood dishes, drinks, desserts and salad dressings

There’s never been a better time to enjoy exceptional apricots. Golden-fleshed, velvety-skinned fruit from South Australian and Victorian orchards is arriving in a range of varieties, offering superb sweetness, fragrance and flavour at their seasonal best.

Golden-fleshed Queensland Jap and Butternut pumpkins are a festive favourite. Roast and dice the flesh for salads, or bake a whole stuffed pumpkin for a show-stopping Christmas centrepiece.

For the freshest salads, reach for tender soft-leaf lettuces such as Red Oak Leaf, Mignonette, Butter or Red Coral, all beautifully fresh. For extra crunch, larger heads like Cos or Iceberg lettuce are a great choice.

Premium Victorian asparagus is still in season at your local greengrocer, offered in thin, standard, and extra-thick spears.

Vibrant red capsicums are the sweetest of the capsicums and packed with vitamins. Ideal for grilling, roasting, salads and pasta dishes.