Marketfresh Report Week Ending 25th April

Petite, healthy and fibre rich, Corella pears have a low GI score of (33-44), which means their natural sugars are broken down slowly for absorption into the bloodstream making you feel satisfied for longer.

Victorian pomegranate season has started, and fruit is sweet eating. Pomegranates have a glorious sweet-tart flavour and are a rich source of antioxidants, and adored for their dynamic ruby coloured nectar and arils.

Soft and sweet eating traditional persimmons (the astringent variety) are a seasonal fruit available from April to July. Persimmons are ready to eat when the flesh is soft, gooey and resembling apricot jam. Persimmons team deliciously with yoghurt, custard, sponge, honey or cinnamon.

Pumpkins golden flesh and natural sweetness offers so many possibilities. Roast with chopped sage and toss pumpkin through pasta, gnocchi or an autumn salad. Pumpkins are good value.

Top up on Vitamin A with versatile, vibrant and top value, fresh carrots. Delicious cooked or raw.

Send the kids back to school with juicy and easy to peel Imperial mandarins, which are now available at your local greengrocer

Musky scented quinces are closely related to apples and pears and are in season now. However, unlike apples and pears, quince need to be peeled, then stewed, baked or poached before you can enjoy their sweet flesh.

Rosemary is the herb of remembrance, and ANZAC day is the perfect time to enjoy this fragrant herb. It is delicious, teamed with lamb, garlic, parmesan cheese, potatoes, yoghurt, chicken, pork and pumpkin.

Chock full of goodness, Brussels sprouts are also good value. Select compact Brussels sprouts about the size of a ping-pong ball. Leaves should be firm, bright green and fresh-looking without signs of yellowing.

Tasmanian Cipollini onions (pronounced chip-oh-lee-knee) are a brown-skinned onion with a flattened disc shape, that are prized for their delicate yet extra sweet onion flavour. Enjoy them whole and roasted, their flesh softening and becoming caramelised and extra sweet.

New-season apples are plentiful and crisp. Apples are an excellent snack food, but they also add sweetness to autumn salads or coleslaw. With over ten different varieties now in season, there is an apple to suit everyone’s taste. Newer varieties like Pink Lady, Kanzi, Jazz and Fuji are very popular for their crunchy texture and unique sweet flavour profiles.

Smooth and creamy Shepard avocados are a thrifty buy. Whip a home-made avocado & spinach hummus, it’s inexpensive, easy to make and ultra-healthy.

Fennel is a crisp root vegetable with a delicate aniseed flavour that complements lamb and seafood. Fennel also teams deliciously with pears and plums.

Nutritious broccoli is a family favourite that is delicious steamed, stir-fried or added to pasta dishes.