August best buys: Blueberries are out but beans and strawberries are in

Nothing beats biting in to a juicy winter fruit or digging into a fresh garden salad.

But with supermarkets supplying many kinds of produce all year round, it can be hard to remember which is actually in season and at its best, so we chatted with Jane Schmidt from Brismark, the company behind the huge Brisbane Produce Markets at Rocklea, to find out what’s perfect to eat right now and what’s on its way out.

She says strawberries are hitting their peak this month, while grapefruit, lemon and kiwi fruit are also at their best.

Blueberries, however, have been affected by the cold so will be on the pricier side, Brisbane Produce Market recently said in it’s weekly produce report.

Passionfruit continues to be a great choice in August, while oranges, particularly blood oranges, are also in prime condition. However, that will start to drop off at the end of the month, so enjoy their great flavour while you can! This red-fleshed orange works great in a feta salad or in a tasty dessert.

Jane says now is a good time to stock up on mandarins, as we’re certainly seeing the last of this popular winter fruit, while she adds: “Not to forget as well good ol’ Queensland pineapples”.

Read more: How to identify the best fruit and veggies at the supermarket

Cherry tomatoes are everywhere this month, as well as Mt Tamborine-grown avocados. Elsewhere, the veggies currently at their best include snow peas, sugar snaps, broccoli, cauliflower, yellow squash, capsicum and beetroot. There’s also an abundance of carrots, salad leaves, leeks and artichokes.

Now is also a good time to stock up on zucchini. After a period of unpredictable supply, zucchinis are back to great buying and the quality is fantastic. Cucumbers, however, are still expensive, as are Asian vegetables.

And if you’re keen to try something different, keep an eye out for a few unusual veggies, such as lobok, also known as the white radish. Jane says lobok works well in stir fries, noodle dishes and in soup.

Another little-known veggie in prime condition this month is radicchio. Radicchio, sometimes known as Italian chicory, is often served as part of salad. Jane says it also tastes great raw or as a snack paired with pear and figs.

Remember, you can enjoy the taste of any fruit or vegetable all year-round by preserving it. You can read more about modern and traditional preservation methods here.

What’s your favourite fruit or vegetable?