What's Good?
Mangoes are a treat this week! We’re seeing good-quality, firm, delicious mangoes. And yes, their name is Kensington Pride. Coming up from the Northern Territory, there's plenty of fruit around, but we're old and wise enough to know that until they taste delicious, we don't start selling them. You may see some immature fruit in supermarkets, like Calypsos and other KPs with a paler blush. They’re not fully mature and have been picked too early—leaving you disappointed. This time of year, it’s crucial to pick the ripe mango. Kensington Pride is the pick of the week, and the price is really reasonable for the start of the season. With so much fruit coming on strong, it’s time to unleash a mango into your fruit bowl!
As for stone fruit, I’d recommend giving peaches and nectarines a miss for now. I’ve eaten more than I should’ve, hoping for them to taste great, but they’re just not there yet. Many early-season varieties go soft in the fruit bowl before you can eat them. Let’s wait a few weeks—I'll keep you updated, but for now, they won’t leave you craving more.
The same goes for Aussie grapes. These early-season varieties are, frankly, best reserved for clean-skin wine, as they’ll leave you “whining” instead of enjoying them.
Now, watermelon—what’s going on? It seems to have gone missing again. We’re expecting a shortage next week due to rain in Queensland growing areas. Hopefully, with some southern fruit kicking in soon, we’ll see watermelon make a comeback for those summer slices.
Bananas? Yep, you guessed it! Bananas are back just in time for the back-to-school lunch boxes. These little beauties are a top pick this week, and you can save a few bucks here. Spend the savings on some blueberries, which are still available in good quantities. There’s a noticeable difference between value lines and premium ones, but even the value lines are great. If you’re usually priced out of blueberries, this week is your chance.
Speaking of berries, let’s talk strawberries. Queensland is at the tail end of its season. The growers are persisting, and while the fruit still tastes great, it won’t last as long. Luckily, Western Australia is sending over some fruit, hoping to grab a bit of the market. Plus, Victoria is just kicking off now, and South Australia is in the mix too. The southern states are your best bet for strawberries this week. You’ll pay more for new-season fruit, but it's worth it. Once Victoria gets going, there will be plenty of strawberries in all shapes and sizes, and some bargains will soon follow.
Quick Highlights:
The picks of the bunch are:
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Mangoes (the pick of the week)
- Late-season citrus, still stunning
- Pink Lady apples, still tasting fantastic
Pears are at the tail end of their season. It’s sad to see them fade out, but as stone fruit transitions in, there’s good news on the horizon. Cherries look like they might make an early appearance. If the weather keeps up, we could have a bumper crop, but remember, cherry forecasts can change quickly with summer storms. Fingers crossed for a strong season!
Veg Update:
Moving on to veg, there's plenty to talk about this week. Out of Queensland, we’re at the tail end of the capsicum season, waiting for South Australia to kick in. Their capsicums are looking a little bit average,
On the lettuce front, hail has ripped through iceberg lettuce so quality is not going to be great next week, and price for broccoli are going to be dicey.
Asparagus is amazing at the moment, so definitely grab some of that. No peas yet, but the wait is almost over. Snow peas are about to come in, and who doesn’t love snow peas in salads or stir-fries? Be ready for them next week.
Tomatoes are flushing! Truss tomatoes are definitely the pick, but all varieties are looking good. We’ve got some banging Oxheart and Heirloom tomatoes, alongside small salad tomatoes and cherry trusses.
Beans out of Bundaberg are also coming along nicely, and Farmer Steve’s baby beets (which he calls Golfball beets) are plentiful—give it a go!
Rainbow chard is stunning right now, ready to brighten up your meals. And for those of you old enough to remember, the humble turnip is making a comeback. Farmer Steve reckons they’re sweet and ready to go.
Farmer Charlie has some beautiful globe artichokes, rhubarb, and a flush of baby peas.
Meanwhile, Farmer Simon’s picks of the week are bok choy, shallots, and rocket. All locally grown from Windsor, Wiseman's Ferry, and surrounding areas.
We’re also keeping an eye on a potential last-minute special of beautiful cauliflower from Oberon. Stay tuned for updates!
