Fresh Fruits & Vegetables in Spring
What’s New at Your Greengrocer
Tomato Medley
A vibrant mix of small tomatoes that brings colour, flavour and freshness to spring meals. Often sold in punnets, these mixes can include cherry, grape, mini roma, teardrop and kumato tomatoes.
Each variety brings its own balance of sweetness, acidity and texture — a simple way to add interest to salads, platters, pasta and lunchboxes.
Quick ways to serve
- Toss through warm pasta with chorizo, rocket, feta and olives.
- Serve halved with buffalo mozzarella, basil and olive oil.
- Roast lightly and spoon over toasted sourdough or grilled chicken.
Blueberries
One of spring's standout fruits — naturally sweet, easy to eat and packed with goodness. Well known for their antioxidant content, they are also low GI and low in kilojoules.
Choose firm, evenly coloured berries. Store in the fridge and wash only just before eating. Perfect for breakfast bowls, muffins, smoothies and simple desserts.
Top ways to use
- Scatter over yoghurt or porridge for a quick healthy breakfast.
- Blend into smoothies with banana and milk or yoghurt.
- Fold through pancake batter or bake into muffins.
Fresh Green Peas
One of the joys of spring. Sweet, bright and tender, they are best enjoyed as fresh as possible — their natural sugars begin converting to starch soon after picking.
Podding peas can be a fun kitchen task for kids. Once shelled, they need only a few minutes cooking. Boil or steam briefly, then mash lightly with olive oil or butter and season well.
Bananas
A reliable everyday favourite. They provide carbohydrate, dietary fibre and natural sweetness, making them ideal for snacks, smoothies and desserts.
Choose according to when you plan to eat — greener for later, more yellow for now. Store at room temperature.
Varieties
- Cavendish — the all-rounder, ideal for lunchboxes, smoothies and baking.
- Ladyfinger — smaller, sweeter and softer, perfect for snacking.
- Cooking bananas — suited to savoury dishes and tropical recipes.
Fresh and in Season
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Spring Recipes
Roast Tomato, Rocket & Chorizo Spaghetti
A quick spring pasta full of roasted tomato flavour, peppery rocket and savoury chorizo.
250g spaghetti • 1 tbs olive oil • 2 chorizo sausages, sliced • 350g tomato medley, halved • 1 clove garlic, crushed • ½ cup pitted olives • 50g feta, crumbled • 1 cup rocket leaves • Salt and pepper
Cook the spaghetti in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain, reserving a little cooking water.
Heat olive oil in a large frying pan. Add chorizo and cook until lightly golden. Add tomato medley and garlic and cook until the tomatoes begin to soften.
Add olives, cooked spaghetti and a splash of reserved pasta water. Toss well. Fold through rocket, season to taste and top with crumbled feta to serve.
Bananas & Mangoes with Palm Sugar Cream
A simple tropical dessert combining fresh bananas and mango with lightly sweetened coconut cream.
2 ripe bananas, sliced • 2 ripe mangoes, cheeks removed and sliced • 1 cup coconut cream • 2 tbs palm sugar, grated • 1 tsp lime juice • Lime zest, to serve
Place the coconut cream, palm sugar and lime juice into a bowl and whisk until smooth. Chill until ready to serve.
Arrange sliced bananas and mango on serving plates or in bowls.
Spoon over the palm sugar cream and finish with a little lime zest before serving.
Seasonal Tips
Spring Produce Tips
Spring is all about colour, crunch and freshness. The perfect time to enjoy lighter dishes built around the natural flavour of seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Buying & Storing
Choose produce that looks fresh, vibrant and in good condition. Refrigerate berries and peas, store bananas at room temperature, and keep tomatoes in a cool spot.
Serving Ideas
- Build colourful salads using tomato medley, leafy greens and herbs.
- Add blueberries and bananas to breakfast bowls and smoothies.
- Serve fresh peas simply with butter, olive oil and seasoning.
Why Eat in Season?
Eating in season is one of the easiest ways to enjoy produce at its best. Seasonal fruit and vegetables are often fresher, tastier and better value.
- Picked closer to its natural peak for flavour and texture.
- Guides you towards what is looking best at your greengrocer.
- Encourages variety in your diet across the year.
Good for You
- Blueberries provide antioxidants and are a smart low-GI snack.
- Green peas provide fibre and a naturally sweet plant-based addition.
- Bananas are a handy source of energy and dietary fibre.