July's Best Value Produce: Greens Take the Lead
July is "pretty much the month of green," according to Matt Palise, director of Red Rich Fruits, a fresh produce wholesaler. Brussels sprouts and wombok (Chinese cabbage) are the standout vegetables for value this month.
Graham Gee, a senior buyer at the Happy Apple in Melbourne, notes that wombok is "probably the cheapest option in the cabbage family at the moment." Michael Hsu, operational manager at Sydney's Panetta Mercato, attributes the low pricing to Victoria's warm winter. Wombok is selling for $5 a piece at Panetta Mercato, $4.20 at the Happy Apple, $3 at Perth's Spudshed, and about $7 at supermarkets.
Kimchi Season and Brussels Sprouts Recipes
With an abundance of wombok, it's an ideal time for kimchi-making. Chef Jung Eun Chae's recipe requires a minimum of two weeks to ferment but keeps indefinitely. For a quicker option, try Ben Delvin's wombok salad with ginger-spiked cashew dressing.
Brussels sprouts are also in good supply and quality, says Gee. The Happy Apple sells them for $6 a kilo, Panetta Mercato for $7.50 a kilo, and supermarkets for $7.90 a kilo. Alice Zaslavsky recommends using them in a buttery colcannon, described as a "croquette without its coat." For a sweeter take, Matt Preston caramelises them with fish sauce and lap cheong for a "sticky party."
Blackberries Are the Berry to Buy
If berries are on your mind, choose blackberries. Strawberries and raspberries are between seasons, with Western Australia and Victoria finishing up. Gee notes the Queensland strawberry season has started but lacks volume for massive supply. Supermarket punnets of blackberries are $4; at the Happy Apple and Panetta Mercato they're $6.
Yotam Ottolenghi's cinnamon and lemon rice pudding features blackberries as the jammy crown, while Benjamina Ebuehi combines blackberries with sage in crumble bars that double as breakfast and a sweet treat.
Pink Lady Apples and Dekopon Mandarins
For apples, pick Pink Ladies. They scored highly in taste tests, and harvesters have "just finished" picking, says Palise, meaning they're "fresh off the tree." They're $7.30 a kilo at the Happy Apple and about $5.90 a kilo in supermarkets.
Gee and Hsu are excited about dekopon, also sold as sumo mandarins, a seedless citrus hybrid with a "big body" and "small head." They praise its sweetness and ease of peeling. Expect them later in July.
Papayas and Tomatoes in Good Supply
Papayas from Queensland are nearly half their usual price, says Hsu. Panetta Mercato sells them for $3 each, while supermarkets charge $4.30 to $5.90. Serve on Yotam Ottolenghi's black rice pudding, or use over-ripe papaya in Tom Hunt's halwa.
Warmer winter weather has boosted tomato vines. "They are a particularly good buy," says Gee, selling small gourmet tomatoes for $3.70 per kilo. Roma tomatoes are $6 a kilo at Spudshed, and round or gourmet varieties range from $4.90 to $6.50 at supermarkets. Try Romy Gill's Indian-style tomato curry and rice for a simple midweek meal.
Other Vegetables in Good Supply
Broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, celery, pumpkin, and zucchini – the "old faithfuls of winter" – are also in good supply, says Gee.
Items to Avoid or Watch
Spinach is facing challenges due to rainy weather, says Palise, and Gee reports similar issues for basil, dill, and tarragon. Spring onion supply is tight as the season shifts from southern Australia to Queensland. Blood oranges are not yet in season; the first specimens appear at the start of July, with supply increasing through the month, heralding the last lot of citrus fruit.
Buy: Apples, Blackberries, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels sprouts, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Mandarins, Navel oranges, Papaya, Pears, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Silverbeet, Sweet potatoes, Wombok cabbage, Zucchini.
Watch: Lettuce, Strawberries.
Avoid: Basil (supply issue), Blood oranges (too early), Dill (supply issue), Spinach (supply issue), Spring onions (change in production), Tarragon (supply issue).
