Fruit & Veg Winter Seasonal Overview

Welcome to our first Fruit & Veg Seasonal Overview! We’re kicking off with winter and reviewing what you can expect from our fruit & veg range over the next few months.

As winter begins, many fruit lines come to a standstill around the world. However, with such wide-ranging climatic conditions in Australia, we are often able to continue growing these crops all year round.

For example, Queensland is one of our nation’s main fruit suppliers through all seasons because of their consistently superb quality. Through winter, you can expect to see pineapples, berries, papayas, capsicums and many citrus fruits from this state.

After a long autumn, the market will be thankful for the arrival of Queensland berries around June. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, (although not as fantastic and delicious as their Victorian counterparts in our opinion), are always supplied in large numbers and are usually well-priced (provided there is no heavy rain or excessive cold weather).

Of the citrus fruits, the imperial mandarin is the undisputed queen. After moving through the early stock in May, we are expecting the quality of Imperial mandarins to be phenomenal during June and July. Other new mandarin varieties should also become available throughout the coming months.

If the Imperial mandarin is the undisputed queen, then the Navel orange is clearly the king of citrus fruits – and the best produce during winter will come from Victoria and the south of NSW.

The new season for most apple varieties begins in May and the cream of the crop comes from South Australia. The best of the Galas, Pink Ladies, Fujis and Granny Smiths will start appearing in June and July. After several years of crops affected by bushfires and years of drought, the quality is unexpectedly high while the cost is surprisingly low. Packham pears from Victoria are also in season and their quality should be excellent after we move through the early crops.

When it comes to vegetables, we expect to see an increase in typical winter veggies such as zucchini, cauliflower, capsicum and broccoli. Prices will tend to come down the further into winter we get, but the quality is expected to be great throughout the whole season. Bundaberg red capsicums will be some of the best produce of the year and at a very affordable price point. In July, there will also be a surge in white and red potato varieties coming from South Australia.

In addition, winter marks the start of the Hass avocado season. Shepard avocados keep improving season by season, however, nothing compares to the Hass avo, which by July or August will arrive from Queensland in large quantities and at a fantastic price.

Recipe: Winter Veggie Stir Fry with Tofu

Serves 4

You can’t beat a stir fry, especially one made with fresh, seasonal vegetables. Our recipe is quick to make and contains loads of winter veggies and tofu for a healthy, protein hit! 

Ingredients 

1 Zucchini
1 Red Capsicum
1/2 Cauliflower
1/2 Broccoli
1/4 Red Cabbage
1 Carrot
4 Spring Onion
1 Jar of Turban Chopsticks Satay Peanut Sauce 
1 1/2 Cups of Rice (we used Basmati)
1 Pack of Soyco Malaysian Tofu
1/2 Tablespoon of Organic Mountain Sesame Oil

 

Method 

1. Thinly slice the zucchini, capsicum, cabbage, carrot and spring onion. Cut the cauliflower and broccoli into small florets
2. Chop the tofu into small cubes (roughly 3cm)
3. Before you start frying your tofu and vegetables, begin cooking the rice
4. On medium-high heat with a little sesame oil fry the tofu until warm 
5. Then add your vegetables and cook until softened 
6. Add the jar of satay peanut sauce, making sure to generously coat all of the vegetables and tofu
7. Serve with a side of rice