Zest is best: mandarins and navel oranges among Australia's best-value fruit and veg for May

The Guardian

06-05-2025

'We're getting into a lot of citrus lines,' says Tony Polistina, co-owner of Forestway Fresh in Sydney's Terrey Hills. 'Australian navels started this week.'
Navel oranges are about $5.50 a kilo for now, but Imperial mandarins from Queensland are about to hit their peak, already as low as $3 a kilo.
That means it's the perfect time to make Anna Jones's mandarin compote – spread it on toast or use it in her delectable queen of puddings, which she makes every Mother's Day.
Berries have been up and down after a summer flush, but some are still a good pick as the Queensland season begins.
Nigel Slater's recipe for raspberry and apple crisp
At Arnold's Fruit Market in Wodonga, Victoria, buyer Steve Richardson says raspberries (about $3.50 a punnet) are the best value but blueberries are up to $7.90 a punnet in supermarkets, with some imported from New Zealand. Strawberries (about $4.50 a punnet) are about to begin their Queensland season, with prices expected to fall this month.
Apples and pears are also in full swing. The Royal Gala apple variety is cheapest, on special in supermarkets at $3.50 a kilo.
'It's the time of year for missile apples – kids love them,' says Polistina. 'They'll stick around for three to four months as they come in from different regions.'
New season Packham pears have now replaced Williams pears, and can be found for $3 to $5 a kilo.
Seize the opportunity to make Nigel Slater's marmalade pears, doused in a bubbling marsala and honey syrup. Or, make use of more that is plentiful with his raspberry and apple crumble with a bready crisp.
Rockmelon and honeydew are not at their sweetest, says Polistina. Watermelon from the Northern Territory is available and good quality but it is expensive at about $5 a kilo, almost double the usual price. Ready to roast Yotam Ottolenghi's roast cabbage with chana dal and sauerkraut. Photograph: Louise Hagger/The Guardian. Food styling: Emily Kydd. Prop styling: Jennifer Kay. Food styling assistant: Susanna Unsworth. Photo assistant: Sophie Bronze.
Sweet potatoes, potatoes, parsnips and carrots are all ready for roast dinner season. If that's not your forte, you can also make Benjamina Ebuehi's carrot cake or Yotam Ottolenghi's lentils with roast butternut squash and feta yoghurt.
There is plenty of pumpkin around, says Richardson, with local kent pumpkin selling for as little as $1.5o a kilo in store. In supermarkets, it is about $3 a kilo and likely to drop further. skip past newsletter promotion
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Be patient with cauliflower as growing seasons switch over. Currently, cauliflower is $5.50 a head, but it won't be long before it comes down in price.
Brussels sprouts have arrived – about $10 to $12 per kilo – but the price will be less than half that in a few weeks.
Zucchinis are close behind (about $5 a kilo for now), perfect for roasting alongside a whole slab of feta, in a Mediterranean-inspired main or side.
Tomatoes are up to $8 a kilo in supermarkets, but are expected to drop to under $5 a kilo in the coming month. When that happens, they can top Alice Zaslavsky's corn and zucchini slice or stand on their own in her garlicky tomato bread. Hass avocados are (almost) back Hass avocados return in late May. Photograph: RobertoCooler days and even cooler nights make salads less appealing but the price of leafy greens are stable. Cabbage and lettuce remain at about $3.50 to $4.50 a head respectively and there is plenty of baby broccoli on special (about $3 a bunch). Richardson says local silverbeet has also flooded the market.
And in very welcome news, avocados are also transitioning from Shepherd to new-season Hass. Right now they are 'a bit blotchy, but will come good by the end of May and into June,' says Richardson. 'You'll be getting a good-quality, good-priced avocado for about $2.50 or $3.'
In the next month or so, it's hoped eggplant (about $8 a kilo) and red capsicum (about $12 a kilo) will drop in price, with the start of the Queensland season.
Buy: Apples Avocado Beetroot Brussels sprouts Chestnuts Oranges Parsnips Pears Potato Pumpkin Mandarins Raspberries Silverbeet Spinach Strawberries Sweet potato Spinach Silverbeet Zucchini
Watch:
Tomatoes
Avoid:
Blueberries Eggplant Green beans
Red capsicum