Fresh this week: New season red kumara is plentiful and good buying this week, as are apples and pears. You can start looking for kiwifruit now too, with golden kiwifruit following very soon. Raspberries and blueberries are still available at New World where they are expecting raspberries in particular to be with us right through to May if the mild weather continues.
Look out for: Passionfruit is still in the early part of its season and not in all New World stores yet, but they should be plentiful in a few weeks. Feijoas (yay!) are also on the way.
Try it in: Don't think of brussels sprouts, which have now arrived in New World stores, as a winter vegetable. When they are young and fresh the inner leaves can be used raw in salads or finely sliced or shaved for slaws on warm autumn days. Flash fry the leaves in a pan with lots of butter and sage and toss them through cooked pasta with lightly toasted walnuts and a generous grating of parmesan, add some blue cheese too if it's your thing.
Brussels sprouts, bacon and almonds
Moving on: The dry weather has green veges such as broccoli, cauliflower and leafy greens in limited supply, which may bring prices up. Look to brussels sprouts (see above) and courgettes to get you through.