Strap yourself in for this week’s bumper produce report! Aussie produce is flourishing now, with a wide variety of fruit and veg available and in-season this week at your local fruit and veg shop. This week is Food Waste Action Week, so we’ll be sharing a few tips, tricks and recipes to help you reduce your food waste at home in this week’s report. Meal prepping is a big step in reducing your food waste at home, so read on for inspiration for this week’s shopping list and inspiration for seasonal recipes.
Our pick of the week this week is fresh-off-the-tree Aussie Pears. New season Corella, Beurre Bosc and William Bartlett Pears are hitting the shelves of your local fruit and veg shop and pack a punch with sweet, crisp flavours and a perfect juicy crunch! Pears are a great option for both sweet and savoury meals, adding a hint of sweetness to salads or roast dishes like this Sausage & Pear Bake. If you’re after something to kick-start your morning, try our Pear & Ginger Oatmeal this week! To help make your Pears last longer at home, store them in the fridge to slow down their ripening time, and when you’re ready to eat them, keep them out on the countertop to ripen!
It is well and truly Grape season with a wide variety available and tasting amazing. Large and tasty Globe grapes are a great all-rounder for the fruit bowl this week, or take your pick from Sapphire, Menindee and Muscat grapes also available. To keep your Grapes fresh, store them in the fridge in the coldest part such as the crisper. You can also freeze grapes for a refreshing snack, perfect for adding to smoothies or using as ice cubes!
There is a flush of tropical fruits in season now, so why not pick up some unique fruit this week! Fruits such as Dragon fruit, Longan, Abiu, Rambutan, Custard Apple and Lychees are just some of the fruits you can find at your local fruit and veg shop. If you haven’t tried any of these fruits before, it’s best to buy a small quantity first, or simply ask your fruiterer or greengrocer how to use it!
Persimmons are in season and bursting with flavour. This soft, sweet fruit is an Autumn favourite. Persimmons are great alone as a refreshing, sweet snack or can be added to salads like this Persimmon Salad with Radicchio & Parmesan.
As the weather cools down, it’s important to keep up with your vitamin intake, and what better way than with Citrus! Valencia Oranges, Mandarins, and Lemons are the perfect cure for the cool-weather blues. If you’re looking to pack in your greens with a hint of sweet citrus, try our Roasted Beetroot & Mandarin Salad this week and customise the recipe by using up any other veg left in your fridge!
Shepard Avocados are in great supply and quality this week. Shepard Avocados are unlike Hass avocados in the way they stay green when they’re ripe, but even better, they stay green once they’re cut! Be sure to pick up some Shepard Avocados for your next taco night, Saturday brekkie or anything in-between!
Are you a fan of Okra? Okra is a divisive little vegetable, as the texture is incredibly unique! Okra contains high levels of Vitamin C to help boost the immune system, making them a great option for your weekly meals. Pick some up this week and try our Okra & Potato Curry for a wholesome meal packed full of flavour.
Grab a bulb of Fennel this week and boost the flavour in your dinner! Fennel has a unique flavour profile resembling flavours of aniseed. The bulb is great either thinly sliced and added to salads, or slow cooked or braised to soften and really bring out the creamy flavours. For a quick and easy side-dish, try our Braised Fennel with Garlic Butterbeans.
Squash is plentiful this week and is a great little veg to add to your Autumn shopping list! The flavour and texture of Squash is similar to Zucchini, making it the perfect addition or substitute for any of your favourite Zucchini recipes. One recipe we love is our Tomato & Squash Galette, a dish the whole family will enjoy. This recipe is a great one to prepare ahead of time for breakfasts or quick and easy packable lunches.
Radicchio has a unique slightly peppery or bitter flavour, and can sometimes be overlooked in the fruit and veg shop, but we implore you to pick some up this week. This pretty purple chicory is a great accompaniment to Mediterranean-style cuisines including salads, soups, pasta or even grilled.
Delicious staples such as Carrots and Celery are great value this week. Combined together with Onion, these three veg make the base of a variety of stews, stocks or slow-cooker meals, in season right on time for the cooler weather! Our Slow Cooker Beef Casserole is an all-round winner for a warm meal on a cool night. Slow cooker meals are a fool-proof way to use up the veg in your fridge or countertop that are reaching the end of their life to save them from the bin.
If you’re looking for more inspiration for ways to reduce your food waste at home, read our 5 Top Tips to Combat Food Waste at Home.Your local Fruit and Veg shop hand select their produce from local Growers and Wholesalers at the central markets to bring you the best quality available! Pick up some of this produce and more from your local Fruit and Veg shop this week!