{"id":921595,"date":"2026-10-09T08:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T08:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/921595\/"},"modified":"2026-10-09T08:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T08:00:13","slug":"the-fresh-fruit-and-vegetables-to-add-to-your-shopping-list-in-october","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/921595\/","title":{"rendered":"The fresh fruit and vegetables to add to your shopping list in October"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Asparagus is &#8220;absolutely sublime&#8221; at the moment, according to green grocer Jo Toscano.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A farmers' market table with a woven basket of snow peas and bunches of asparagus laid out.\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/7d0ad992be893023e09a339deea41e7e.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Snow peas are also in season during spring. (ABC News: Anna Chisholm)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Asparagus, snow peas and garden peas are increasingly prominent on shelves as spring sets in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">While no-one doubts the convenience of frozen peas, Effie Ramos from organic market garden Remi&#8217;s Patch in Naarm\/Melbourne says there&#8217;s something special about the ritual of slowing down and popping the pods open yourself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">University of Newcastle nutrition professor Clare Collins says shopping seasonally can help us to introduce variety into our diets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;If you eyeball all the veggies and fruit, look at what hasn&#8217;t visited your trolley for a few weeks,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p>What can you look for?Vegetables:AsparagusGarden peasSnow peasBroad beans, including broad bean tipsBroccoliCauliflowerAsian greens such as Chinese broccoli and bok choyCapsicumBeetrootFresh garlicCeleryFruit:Citrus, such as alfourer mandarins, navel and blood orangesMangoes, as availability increasesAsparagus, peas and broad beans<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Asparagus is expected to peak in mid-to-late October, Ms Toscano says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">People tend to avoid the thick asparagus spears, but she says they&#8217;re &#8220;juicy and full of flavour&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-10-05\/savour-spring-asparagus-with-these-easy-dinner-recipes\/107217594\" data-component=\"FullBleedLink\" class=\"RelatedCard_link__rsgR9 FullBleedLink_root__lTw_U interactive_focusContext__yRhc_ interactive_defaults__AKxUU FullBleedLink_showVisited__g3Xvz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Four spring asparagus recipes<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_synopsis__cFwMW Typography_sizeMobile14__u7TGe Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">From one-pot pasta to a crunchy green salad, these easy recipes will put spring asparagus on your weeknight menu.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">White asparagus doesn&#8217;t offer the &#8220;great value&#8221; of green asparagus, Ms Toscano says &#8220;it is divine&#8221;. She recommends peeling it as the exterior can be &#8220;quite fibrous&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Dr Collins says asparagus works well in an omelette, quiche or with a simple cheese sauce.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Garden peas are also in season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;Fresh peas sort of stay elevated in price but when they&#8217;re good they&#8217;re really good and it&#8217;s worth it,&#8221; Ms Toscano says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">When garden peas are fresh and young, she suggests using the pods (after they&#8217;ve been shelled) to flavour homemade vegetable stock or blitzing and sieving that mixture to make an intense pea-flavoured cooking liquid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Broad beans are also &#8220;awesome&#8221; right now, Ms Toscano says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Ms Ramos says the leafy green tip of the broad beans have been popular and are &#8220;really good, fresh in a salad&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A tub of fresh green garden peas at a farmers' market.\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/36ef231f8844a78bd4375ae886783500.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Effie Ramos says there is nothing as good as peas when they are at their peak. (ABC News: Anna Chisholm\u00a0)<\/p>\n<p>Brassicas and Asian greens (again)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Broccoli and cauliflower &#8220;are pretty good value&#8221; and Asian greens such as Chinese broccoli are another good buy, Ms Toscano says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Dr Collins says brassicas, including cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage, can be divisive because they can taste bitter to &#8220;super tasters&#8221; \u2014 people with a more sensitive sense of taste.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;But the good news, especially for parents, is that [through] repeated exposure you increase your tolerance,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Avoid overcooking the produce and try roasting it or masking the flavour with something like a cheese sauce if someone you are cooking for finds it bitter, she suggests.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A display of asian greens, carrots and spring onions at a farmers' market.\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/310ca37cce4c725c15344a4b189d30c9.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Jo Toscano says carrots are available year-round, but they are &#8220;unbelievable at the moment as well&#8221;. (ABC News: Anna Chisholm)<\/p>\n<p>Seeing red (capsicum and beetroot)Recipes to try:<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Ms Toscano says lots of red capsicums are coming from Queensland and that there are &#8220;bargains to be had&#8221; over the next couple of weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Dr Collins says you can use affordable capsicums and Asian greens in stir-fries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Ms Ramos says it&#8217;s a good time for beetroot, which can be added to salads, raw or cooked.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;A lot of people sort of underestimate the power of the leaves of the beets. You can have them raw, or I just blanch them with a little bit of olive oil,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Ms Ramos expects an abundance of spring onions, coriander, parsley, which will decrease prices.<\/p>\n<p>October fruit offerings<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Grapes have started but they&#8217;re still very expensive, Ms Toscano says, and the first stone fruit will begin appearing this month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;With the confluence of WA and Queensland mango seasons in a few weeks, prices are expected to fall,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Cathy Senn from Sensational Berries in Naarm\/Melbourne says supplies of Victorian berries will increase as the month continues, adding to those coming from northern Australia.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2021-05-27\/lemon-delicious-pudding\/100154214\" data-component=\"FullBleedLink\" class=\"RelatedCard_link__rsgR9 FullBleedLink_root__lTw_U interactive_focusContext__yRhc_ interactive_defaults__AKxUU FullBleedLink_showVisited__g3Xvz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lemon delicious pudding<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_synopsis__cFwMW Typography_sizeMobile14__u7TGe Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">A hot pudding doused in cream is always welcome in cooler months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;Starting with the strawberries and then we&#8217;ll go on to raspberries and then later on we&#8217;ll have the blueberries come on and then the strawberries, the blackberries after that,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Citrus varieties are &#8220;diminishing&#8221;, Ms Senn says, pointing to her &#8220;about finished&#8221; blood oranges, cara cara oranges and ruby grapefruits.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Dr Collins says at this time of year you can often buy bags of great value lemons and oranges. If she&#8217;s got people coming over, she likes to cook her lemon-and-orange delicious.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;You use the rind, the more rind the better,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Separating the egg white from the egg yolks is &#8220;the tricky bit&#8221;, but it&#8217;s also a good opportunity to teach kids or grandkids how to do it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Asparagus is &#8220;absolutely sublime&#8221; at the moment, according to green grocer Jo Toscano. Snow peas are also in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":921596,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,63,489440,99,489436,489435,489437,489438,489439],"class_list":["post-921595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-best-fruit-and-veggies-to-buy-spring","tag-business","tag-cheap-shopping","tag-seasonal-spring-produce","tag-spring-recipes","tag-what-fruits-are-in-season-now-in-australia-in-spring","tag-which-fruits-and-vegetables-are-in-season-now"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=921595"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/921595\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/921596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=921595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=921595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=921595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}