Photograph: Tatiana Sviridova/Getty Images
Winter is all about citrus, says owner and buyer Josh Flamminio at Sydney’s Galluzzo Fruiterers. “Navel oranges are in. They’re from Mildura and they’re getting sweeter.”
At $3 a kilo in supermarkets, they’re closely followed by mandarins. Daisy, imperial and Premium Gem varieties are also at their peak. “A Premium Gem mandarin is a new one in our shop,” says Flamminio. “They’ve got the perfect amount of tang, with a few seeds. They’re a rounded, symmetrical mandarin.”
At Melbourne’s Happy Apple, senior buyer Graham Gee has his eye on Cara Cara oranges, which will arrive this month. They’re seedless and known for their sweet flavour. Grapefruits are in season too, and can be found for about $5 a kilo in supermarkets.
Berries, however, have faltered. “Blueberries are quite diabolical at the moment. They’re in really short supply,” says Gee. “They are out of season and affected by the weather. You’re looking at double-figure price tags for anything that is half decent, which is tough.”
Blueberries are expected to fall in price in another three to four weeks, but it’s not all blue. In Queensland, strawberries and raspberries are kicking off, with strawberries soon to come down to $2 or $3 a punnet.
But the best crop to make a comeback is Hass avocados. “You’ll see some for a couple of dollars apiece, great multi-buy deals, and the quality is really good. We’ve got such an appetite for them,” says Gee.
Beet the winter blues
At a couple of dollars a bunch, depending on size and quality, Flamminio says there is plenty of cavolo nero, silverbeet, kale and cabbage and all unaffected by the rain.
“People are doing lots of soups and stews and bakes. They’re very affordable and wintry. Silverbeet is humongous. They’re almost a metre long, and gorgeous.”
We all know silverbeet can wilt down to nothing, but it is front and centre in a Yotam Ottolenghi south Indian and Sri Lankan inspired stir-fry, or you can stuff the enormous leaves with rice, herbs and spices.
Pumpkins are in their prime, at $2 a kilo or less in grocers and supermarkets.
“They’re not green any more, they’re sun-kissed and bright orange,” says Flamminio.
Butternut, Jap or Queensland blue pumpkin are all available, says Gee. Sweet potatoes and potatoes are also filling shelves, at $3.50 to $4.50 a kilo, respectively. We can expect to see reasonable prices throughout the rest of winter.
Make use of citrus and the best orange-coloured veg in Alice Zaslavsky’s one-tray roast pumpkin, sweet potato and carrot soup.
Brussels sprouts are also budding, but haven’t quite reached their cheapest. Flamminio says they can be as low as $3.99 a kilo at their peak.
He recommends rhubarb too. The crops are a rich red, with thick stalks – perfect for dessert. Ravneet Gill has a picture-perfect tart that shows off the pink, plus a twist on rhubarb and custard with tapioca. Or you can go back to basics and spruce up a bowl of porridge with Nigel Slater’s rhubarb addition.
Salad days are over
After cold weather and the cyclone damage, tomatoes are not looking rosy. “This is the worst I’ve seen in four years,” says Flamminio, .
“I’ve got them for $10.99 a kilo in my shop because I can’t justify asking people to pay $14.99. People could be charging $16 to $18 a kilo to make a margin. For the next three or four weeks, hold on to your hat for tomatoes.”
Cucumbers are more expensive, even compared with three or four weeks ago, and grocers are still waiting for red capsicums to kick in within the month, after rain in Queensland slowed supply.
Buy:
Apples
Beetroot
Bok choy
Brussels sprouts
Cavolo nero
Hass avocado
Parsnips
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Silverbeet
Spinach
Strawberries
Sweet potatoes
Tangelo
Quince
Wombok
Avoid:
Blueberries
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
