Market Fresh Report - Week Ending 19th January

Flavour-packed peaches and nectarines continue to be a standout buy from your local greengrocer. Yellow-fleshed and white-fleshed fruit is now coming from orchards in Victoria and South Australia and has a good shelf life

Harvesting for Tasmania’s cherry crop is underway. Several different varieties are available and fruit is a good size

Top quality mangoes from Mareeba are plentiful.

Summer is the time to enjoy locally grown eggplants. There is so many ways to enjoy eggplant, roasted, grilled, barbecued or baked.

Zucchinis are a breeze to prepare. No need to peel, simply slice, dice or grate. Their mild flavour makes them a hit with the kids.

Summer radishes add a pleasant peppery flavour to salads and crudités. Newer varieties of radish include the watermelon radish, French radish and the multi-coloured mixed bunches. Fabulous for making salads colourful and interesting.

If you love your strawberries then now is the time to enjoy sweet eating Victorian strawberries. Strawberries are highly perishable and recent extreme heat, is reducing shelf, so buy and eat with 1-2 day for maximum quality.

Plump, rosy-fleshed, figs are the perfect partner to soft creamy cheeses and cold meats. Look for bulk buy specials, ensure that figs are firm.

Fragrant, tangy and tropical tasting, passionfruit team passionfruit is peaches, nectarines, mangoes, pineapples or berries and serve with a scoop of ice-cream

Golden cobs of Hawkesbury grown sweetcorn are in season.

At this time of year light, colourful flavour-packed salads are essential. Baby spinach leaves are a tasty and easy addition to a salad.

Discover the interesting flavour and unique texture of okra. Used in Middles Eastern and Indian cookery, okra goes well with tomatoes, garlic, onions, potatoes, lemon juice and lamb

Tropical tasting red-fleshed papaya is a luscious fruit and a great buy this week. Try them drizzled with fresh lime juice.

Golden or red-fleshed tangy plums are in season from December to early May. Give plums the ultimate summer treatment, cook them on the barbecue or toss wedges or slices through salads. Poached plums are delicious served with yoghurt.

Juicy with a delicate crunch, new season grapes are filled with natural sweetness. Select from Menindee, Crimson seedless, Sultana and Red Globe.

Baby fennel, with its vibrant aniseed flavour and crisp crunch, is a perfect addition to summer salads. Choose firm fennel with fresh green fronds.

Tasmanian grown Karoda carrots have a superb flavour and their bright orange colour indicates they are a rich in vitamin A. This variety is also distinguishable by their shorter and thicker shape

Golden fleshed kumara tubers are excellent value