Produce report

GROWING STRONG: There’s a great variety of yellow-fleshed peaches in supermarkets, and the various types of plums from Hawke’s Bay continue to be a delicious buy. Tomatoes, eggplants and round beans are especially good value and pumpkin prices are falling. A bunch of perfectly soft new-season pear varietals are available in store. Pears are generally freely available until November and harvested, much like apples, in February and March. Talking of which, Yummy SweeTango apples are plentiful. “If you’re after a crisp crunchy apple, look no further; the SweeTango holds the Guinness world record for the loudest apple crunch,” says New World Fresh Expert Brigit Corson. Gala apples are pocket-friendly and cabbages are affordable again. Local rockmelons and Peruvian mangoes are all excellent buying and so refreshing in the heat.

LOOK FOR: Lunchbox-sized flatto golds from Central Otago are set to join the peach parade and the oldschool blackboy variety will soon be making an appearance too. Small quantities of greengage plums from Central Otago are on the way and, from farmers’ markets, outdoor grapes — including muscats and tight bunches of super flavoursome champagne grapes. Feijoas are close, with the season kickstarting in March.

MOVING ON: Apricots have been top notch this year but the season will soon draw to a close. While not exactly moving on, the hot, dry weather is set to cause a few supply issues with salad greens, fruit and other veg. “Fingers crossed we’ll see some rain soon which will see crops flourish,” says Brigit.