Produce report: December 9

Grab the very best fresh and seasonal produce with tips from the Fresh Experts at New World.

FRESH IN: The first of the sweet corn is really living up to its name. The season has kick-started early, making corn great value for this time of year and it will continue to be deliciously affordable as crops become even more plentiful. So there is no reason not to partake if you have a butter-slathered cob or a Mexican salsa on your mind.

Corn with Mexican butter

Cavolo nero is back on the shopping list and there are good supplies of Perlas and Jersey Benne potatoes in store too (including washed JBs in New World supermarkets for those who plan on serving them sooner rather than later). Eggplants, strawberries, broccoli and asparagus are all good buying. “With a short but sweet season of 100 days in the year – our locally grown asparagus is soon nearing its end. Be sure to pick up a bunch or two from your local New World whilst they’re still plentiful and great buying,” says New World Fresh Expert Brigit Corson.

LOOK OUT FOR: the first of the local stone fruit. Along with the newly arrived cherries, you should be spying nectarines and apricots too. With the warmer summer weather, supply, price and sweetness will improve. "It's been a slow start to the season due to hailstorms earlier this year but as Christmas fast approaches, you'll find more perfectly ripe nectarines and apricots available in-store. Stone fruit flourishes in the warmth and enjoys low rainfall – that's why ours are mainly grown in the sunny Hawkes Bay and Central Otago," says Brigit. There are good supplies of fresh peas and the first of the local beans in supermarkets as we careen towards Christmas.

MOVING ON: "Imported pineapples are in short supply but fear not they'll come right just in time for the festive season," says Brigit.