Get the very best fruit and vegetable in season now thanks to expert tips from our friends at New World.
NEW IN: We're awaiting the arrival of local navel oranges in supermarkets. “Our new season of sweet local oranges are trickling in to stores now and will be here right through to November” says New World Fresh Expert Brigit Corson. One of the most anticipated fruits of winter, navel oranges are large, sweet and usually seedless and are in season from about late June/early July until December. Snacking on one orange will fulfil your total daily requirement for vitamin C as well as offering a good boost of folate, potassium and niacin (for brain and nerve function and to help reduce fatigue). Store oranges in the fruit bowl at room temperature for about a week. Refrigerated, they will last about three weeks longer. Navel oranges can stay on the tree for three or four months after the fruit reaches a mature size and most in New Zealand are grown in Gisborne.
Citrus breakfast crumb
LOOK FOR: lower priced avocados. “The new season of hass Avocados have finally arrived so guacamole is back on the menu! We’re expecting a great season, especially as Avocados become even more plentiful into Spring” says Brigit. Good news is that they are much more affordable than the last few months “Our fresh local produce is influenced by the weather – this caused the last crop of fruit to ripen earlier which is why we then saw a shortage earlier than normal. It’s why the best thing to do is to buy in-season!” says Brigit. Be sure to stock up with green kiwifruit on your next shop – they are a super bargain. Same goes for broccoli and green cabbages – all easy on the pocket and with loads of nutritional benefits too. Leeks are good value and are perfect to slow cook to add caramelised sweetness to winter soups and braises. Getting bored with apples and pears? Vary the winter repertoire with gold pineapples in New World stores now.
MOVING ON: Persimmons have made an exit and it’s a last call for quinces and nashi pears. “Overall it’s a great time of year for fruit so not too many varieties disappearing.” says Brigit.