Produce report February 25

Fresh this week: "The bulk of New Zealand's kumara is grown up north in Dargaville, and now that the new season is upon us, red kumara is back in stores and you can look forward to orange kumara making an appearance in the next few weeks" says New World Fresh Expert Brigit Corson. "Ohakune carrots, loved for their great flavour, sweetness and shape, have just started at New World too. Passionfruit are trickling into the fruit department, joining New Zealand watermelon, rockmelon, nectarines, peaches and plums.

What to look for: "When buying watermelon a tried and true tip is to look for 'the field spot,'" says Brigit "it's the pale area on the green outer skin where the melon has been resting on the ground as it grows. The stronger yellow colour it is, the sweeter the watermelon. Look for a new seedless variety of watermelon at your local New World: the kids will love it. Passionfruit should be firm and gloss, those looking a bit too wrinkly may be a bit dry and past their best."

Try it in: The fruit department is telling usto make fruit salads. Combine seasonal New Zealand fruit with Peruvian mangoes (also good buying in New World stores) in Ray McVinnie's salade tropical recipe replacing pomegranate seeds with passionfruit — or use both because pomegranates from the US are good buying too.

Watermelon and lime salad with honey cider vinaigrette

Moving on: We're reaching the end of strawberry season but they're still available so make the most of them before they're gone. "Keep an eye out for Driscollsberries" says Brigit. "They're specially grown to be larger, sweeter fruit".