The inside scoop on the best fresh fruit and vege buys of the week thanks for our friends at New World.
FRESH IN: Whole drumhead cabbages are super-affordable and cauliflowers are in great form too, easy on the pocket compared to prices a year or so ago. Broccoli continues to
be good buying. You'll find bags of the longer, sweet-stemmed broccolini in New World stores now as well. Slice the stems in half lengthways and quickly stir-fry. It's time to grab a bag of brussels sprouts, which should be nice and sweet after winter frosts. Look for smaller ones which taste less like cabbage and are sweeter than the bigger, looser-leaved offerings. Leafy greens like kale, silverbeet and cavolo nero are looking crisp and fresh too. New World Fresh Expert Brigit Corson says: "Most of our locally grown kale and cavolo are from Pukekohe, with other brassicas from further — brussels sprouts from Ohakune and Darfield, and cauliflower grown in Levin. They're still going strong with great quality produce at good prices from your local New World. Sweet NZ navel oranges are also in full swing," adds Brigit. They join winter's great citrus line- up — limes, mandarins, lemons and grapefruit, which are all good buys.
Charred cauliflower quesadillas
LOOK FOR: Local yellow yams to bring sunshine to the weekend roast, and hothouse blueberries for winter pavlovas. And though we all know to eat as locally as possible, there are USA cherries in supermarkets for a splurge and "Australian red watermelon are available in most New World stores", says Brigit "with some also stocking yellow watermelons."
IN SHORT SUPPLY: The cold weather has affected volumes of summery herbs including micro ones and edible flowers. "Australian short green cucumbers are available and good buying and our NZ-grown telegraph cucumbers are still on the shelf but soon won't be as plentiful as cooler weather starts to impact at the end of their season," Brigit says.
