Buy fresh and seasonal with up-to-date produce updates from the team at New World.
FRESH IN: In supermarkets now, the elegant beurre bosc pear with its long tapering neck and golden skin. No use just looking at them, boscs are sweet eating and good to poach too. Stonefruit remains plentiful: Blackboy peaches have arrived along with golden queens from Hawke’s Bay. As well as other peach varieties from Central Otago, you’ll find decent supplies of nectarines and plums in store. Black and green outdoor grapes are plentiful and delicious, from farmers’ markets. Keep an eye out for fresh figs while you are there.
Fig and mozzarella bruschetta
Rockmelons are good buying now, along with tomatoes, sweetcorn, courgettes and capsicums. “Grab a bunch of imported American asparagus from your local New World. These tender spears will be available for the next few months and the local season will kick start in spring,” says New World Fresh Expert Brigit Corson.
LOOK FOR: the first of the brussels sprouts from Ohakune. It always seems a shock to see them when the weather’s still warm but they can be shredded for salads, of course, not just boiled to go with a roast. The Ohakune veges will be joined by brussels from Otago in about May and will stick around until mid-spring. Look for golden raspberries to top still-summery desserts. Apart from the colour, they taste just like the luscious reds. “Keep your eyes peeled for new season Kiwifruit from Gisborne and Bay of Plenty, they’ll be cropping up in store in the next two weeks,” says Brigit.
MOVING ON: The supply of leafy and salad greens, herbs like dill and Italian parsley, and cauliflower continue to be affected by the drought. Got to feel for the growers! Australian mangoes have ended. The apricot season is slowing down.