Market Fresh Report Week Ending 28th February

Make the most of late summer’s sun-blessed peaches and nectarines. Most fruit is now clingstones varieties, which are very tasty and top value. Apart from snacking on stonefruit, roasting peaches and nectarines amplifies their bright flavours

With their sweet-tart flavour, plums are perfect for tossing through salads, pack into a lunchbox, poach, bake, or stew. Primetime, Amber Jewel, Radiance & Dapple Dandy; tangy, juice and sweet mid-season plums are a great value

Late summer tomatoes are richly flavoured.There is a good supply of plump, ripe salad tomatoes around this week from Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, and from Sydney growers

Checkout the Victorian strawberries and the blackberries this week

Pumpkins are plentiful. Select from Butternut, Jarrahdale, and Jap pumpkins. Cut pumpkin is $2-$3 a kilo. Add the sweet, nutty flavour of pumpkin to curries, pasta dishes or roast and toss through cooked couscous or a salad.

Broccoli is a popular vegetable that needs minimal preparation. One of the most nutritious of all vegetables it provides, some iron, potassium, and a high content of vitamins, including vitamin C.

Crisp, tender, and naturally sweet snow peas are a scrumptious addition to any stir fry.

Freshly harvested new-season apples are juicy, sweet, and crunchy. New-season apples from Batlow and Victoria include Fuji, Mi apples and Royal Gala

New-season Williams's pears from Shepparton in Victoria are sweet, juicy, flavoursome and rich in fibre

New-season Shephard avocados, a perfect choice for salad or sandwiches as they will not brown once cut

Eggplants come in many shapes, sizes and colours and are appreciated the world over for their taste and versatility. Eggplants spongy flesh rapid absorbs flavours during cooking. Eggplant teams well with tomatoes, capsicum, garlic, lemon, basil, mint, cheese, lamb, tahini, and yoghurt. Eggplant, tomato & pine nut salad -This salad teams well with barbecued chicken, fish, or meat.

Brightly coloured red or green capsicums add colour to any meal. Roast, stir-fry, barbecue, grill or eat raw. Capsicums are an excellent source of vitamins A, B3, and C.

Mushrooms are fast and easy to prepare and have a unique nutritional profile. Make your meals healthier by adding mushrooms.

Green bean prices have eased this week

The Mildura and Robinvale regions provide top eating grapes, and with exports down and there is an abundance of quality grapes to enjoy. Sultana grapes are small in size, naturally sweet, and yellowish-green colour. There are also quality eating Thompson, Crimson seedless and Black Muscatels, Cotton Candy and Sapphire grapes available at your local greengrocer.

Luscious fresh figs are abundant right now, and their natural sugars make them deliciously sweet.

Passionfruit are in stores right now and are tangy and delicious.

Zucchini are popular in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking and flavored for their dense white flesh, versatility, and mild flavour. Grated zucchini is perfect for adding to pasta sauces or sauté sliced zucchinis with crushed garlic until tender.

Select small to medium-sized, firm white cauliflowers. At home, store in a plastic bag in the fridge and use within 4 days. Versatile cauliflower teams deliciously with flavour like cheese, lemon, garlic, potatoes, mustard, breadcrumbs and curry

Crunchy Iceberg lettuce is a thrifty buy