Summer's sweetest deals: Affordable fruit and vegetable picks to add to your January shopping list
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As the sun beats down and the days stretch out, there's nothing quite like the taste of fresh, juicy fruit to make an Australian summer feel complete.
Following a series of wet summers that affected crop yields, this year's drier weather has left almost everything on the table.
And this January, there's a bounty of delicious and affordable options that are ripe for the picking, promising both vibrant flavours and great value for money.
Graham Gee, a Senior Buyer at the Happy Apple in Melbourne, has shared some insider knowledge on the best-value fruits and vegetables to add to your shopping list this month.
Stone fruits, in particular, are making a splash in the market with their sweet taste and wallet-friendly prices.
‘Peaches and nectarines…you can get for about $3 a kilo, with premium varieties a few dollars more,’ Gee said.
These succulent fruits are not only perfect for eating fresh but also ideal for creative kitchen endeavours, such as pickling ripe peaches or whipping up a delightful nectarine and raspberry sourdough pudding, a seasonal twist on the classic bread-based dessert.
Plums, both red and black varieties, are also abundant and reasonably priced, while cherries from Victoria and Tasmania continue their delicious run, selling for about $18 a kilo.
Berries are having a moment, too, with Victorian strawberries at their prime for roughly $3 a punnet and blueberries and raspberries temptingly affordable at about $2 and $4 a punnet, respectively.
For those who love a bit of tropical sweetness, rockmelons are hitting their peak.
‘When you cut them open, they're beautiful,’ Gee remarked.
‘They’re really starting to come into their own…you can probably pick up a nice, good-sized whole one for $4 to $5.’
And let's not forget about watermelon, a quintessential summer treat. Sam Russo, a greengrocer from Harvest Eltham in Melbourne, recommended this crisp and vibrant fruit, now more accessible at about $2.50 a kilo.
It's the perfect thirst-quencher on hot days or can be enjoyed in a more unconventional way—cooked in a frying pan and drizzled with honey for a sweet and savoury breakfast.
Russo also noted that dragon egg lychees, also known as Erdon Lee lychees, are set to be the highlight of the month.
‘They’re going to be really popular come Chinese New Year. They’re cheap for what they are, but they’re still fetching $30 to $40 a kilo…They go crazy at the end of January,’ he said.
Kensington Pride mangoes are nearing the end of their season, but other varieties should remain available for another month, priced around $3 each, with Honey Gold being the most affordable.
In the vegetable aisle, red capsicums are sizzling with value, selling for about $2.99 a kilo—a significant drop from their usual price range of $3 to $6 a kilo.
They're perfect for roasting and serving as antipasti or for blending into a spicy Middle Eastern dip like muhammara.
Heirloom tomatoes from South Australia are thriving, too, and as long as the weather stays sunny and dry, they should maintain their quality.
‘A heatwave is fine for a brief period,’ Russo said. ‘But if you get a heatwave mixed with a lot of humidity, that’ll destroy everything.’
Eggplants are also a good buy at about $7 a kilo and can be transformed into a delicious sweet-and-sour eggplant orzo dish.
‘Lettuces are in pretty good supply at the moment,’ Gee also pointed out.
‘That’s iceberg and cos, as well as the more exotic ones, like oak, coral and butter lettuce.’
Whether you're making a ‘particularly Aussie’ surf club salad or a Middle Eastern-inspired dish with butterhead lettuce, there's no shortage of fresh greens to choose from.
And according to Gee, don't overlook the brassicas—broccoli, cauliflower, and broccolini are not just for winter.
At about $6 a kilo for broccoli, $4 a head for cauliflower, and $2.50 a bunch for broccolini, these vegetables are perfect for roasting or blanching to add to your summer salads.
However, keep an eye on avocados. Hass avocados have been creeping up in price to about $3 each.
‘We've had a really good supply for about 18 months, and it is starting to dry up a little bit now,’ Gee warned.
‘It’s probably a trend we can expect to see up to Australia Day.’
‘We may even see them get $1 more expensive. As more of the regions come online, the new season crops will bring the price back down,’ he added.
As Australians embrace the bounty of fresh, affordable produce this January, including sweet watermelon and juicy nectarines, it’s also a great time to think about ways to stretch your grocery budget further.
One unexpected place to score fantastic savings is ALDI, where savvy shoppers are uncovering some unbelievable deals.
For instance, you can now score one pantry essential for under $15—ideal for anyone looking to save without sacrificing quality.
Have you stocked up on these? Which one are you most excited to buy? Let us discuss them in the comments below.
Following a series of wet summers that affected crop yields, this year's drier weather has left almost everything on the table.
And this January, there's a bounty of delicious and affordable options that are ripe for the picking, promising both vibrant flavours and great value for money.
Graham Gee, a Senior Buyer at the Happy Apple in Melbourne, has shared some insider knowledge on the best-value fruits and vegetables to add to your shopping list this month.
Stone fruits, in particular, are making a splash in the market with their sweet taste and wallet-friendly prices.
‘Peaches and nectarines…you can get for about $3 a kilo, with premium varieties a few dollars more,’ Gee said.
These succulent fruits are not only perfect for eating fresh but also ideal for creative kitchen endeavours, such as pickling ripe peaches or whipping up a delightful nectarine and raspberry sourdough pudding, a seasonal twist on the classic bread-based dessert.
Graham Gee revealed the best-value fruits and veggies to shop for this month. Credit: Shutterstock
Plums, both red and black varieties, are also abundant and reasonably priced, while cherries from Victoria and Tasmania continue their delicious run, selling for about $18 a kilo.
Berries are having a moment, too, with Victorian strawberries at their prime for roughly $3 a punnet and blueberries and raspberries temptingly affordable at about $2 and $4 a punnet, respectively.
For those who love a bit of tropical sweetness, rockmelons are hitting their peak.
‘When you cut them open, they're beautiful,’ Gee remarked.
‘They’re really starting to come into their own…you can probably pick up a nice, good-sized whole one for $4 to $5.’
And let's not forget about watermelon, a quintessential summer treat. Sam Russo, a greengrocer from Harvest Eltham in Melbourne, recommended this crisp and vibrant fruit, now more accessible at about $2.50 a kilo.
It's the perfect thirst-quencher on hot days or can be enjoyed in a more unconventional way—cooked in a frying pan and drizzled with honey for a sweet and savoury breakfast.
Russo also noted that dragon egg lychees, also known as Erdon Lee lychees, are set to be the highlight of the month.
‘They’re going to be really popular come Chinese New Year. They’re cheap for what they are, but they’re still fetching $30 to $40 a kilo…They go crazy at the end of January,’ he said.
Kensington Pride mangoes are nearing the end of their season, but other varieties should remain available for another month, priced around $3 each, with Honey Gold being the most affordable.
In the vegetable aisle, red capsicums are sizzling with value, selling for about $2.99 a kilo—a significant drop from their usual price range of $3 to $6 a kilo.
They're perfect for roasting and serving as antipasti or for blending into a spicy Middle Eastern dip like muhammara.
Heirloom tomatoes from South Australia are thriving, too, and as long as the weather stays sunny and dry, they should maintain their quality.
‘A heatwave is fine for a brief period,’ Russo said. ‘But if you get a heatwave mixed with a lot of humidity, that’ll destroy everything.’
Eggplants are also a good buy at about $7 a kilo and can be transformed into a delicious sweet-and-sour eggplant orzo dish.
‘Lettuces are in pretty good supply at the moment,’ Gee also pointed out.
‘That’s iceberg and cos, as well as the more exotic ones, like oak, coral and butter lettuce.’
Whether you're making a ‘particularly Aussie’ surf club salad or a Middle Eastern-inspired dish with butterhead lettuce, there's no shortage of fresh greens to choose from.
And according to Gee, don't overlook the brassicas—broccoli, cauliflower, and broccolini are not just for winter.
At about $6 a kilo for broccoli, $4 a head for cauliflower, and $2.50 a bunch for broccolini, these vegetables are perfect for roasting or blanching to add to your summer salads.
However, keep an eye on avocados. Hass avocados have been creeping up in price to about $3 each.
‘We've had a really good supply for about 18 months, and it is starting to dry up a little bit now,’ Gee warned.
‘It’s probably a trend we can expect to see up to Australia Day.’
‘We may even see them get $1 more expensive. As more of the regions come online, the new season crops will bring the price back down,’ he added.
One unexpected place to score fantastic savings is ALDI, where savvy shoppers are uncovering some unbelievable deals.
For instance, you can now score one pantry essential for under $15—ideal for anyone looking to save without sacrificing quality.
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