Arabic version: الفراولة والغريب فروت يتصدران خيارات المنتجات لشهر نوفمبر

According to The Guardian, strawberries, mangoes, tomatoes, Lebanese cucumbers, red capsicums and grapefruit are among Australia’s best-value fruit and vegetables for November. Michael Hsu, operational manager at Sydney’s Panetta Mercato, said warmer weather is bringing on fruit, while an early Victorian strawberry season has produced a glut.

Dean Lamb of Watts Fresh in Kyneton said the early strawberries are “really good” quality. Punnets cost between $2 and $4.99 at Watts Fresh, depending on size, while Perth’s Spudshed sells them for $3.99 a punnet. Graham Gee, senior buyer at Melbourne’s Happy Apple, said “tons of mangoes” are arriving from the Northern Territory and Queensland. Kensington prides cost $4 each at Happy Apple and Panetta Mercato, and $3 each at supermarkets.

Tomato supply from Queensland, Victoria and South Australia is strong, Lamb said. Truss tomatoes are $5.99 per kilogram at Watts Fresh and about $3.90 per kilogram at supermarkets. Hsu said Lebanese cucumber prices have fallen following an influx linked to improved growing conditions and local New South Wales supply; he is selling them for $2 per kilogram. Red capsicums are also abundant, while Gee expects cucumber, tomato and capsicum prices to become more affordable deeper into peak salad season.

Hsu said grapefruit is plentiful, well priced and in good condition, with fruit around one-and-a-half times the size of a fist. It sells for $4 to $5 per kilogram at Happy Apple and $4 per kilogram at Panetta Mercato. Stone fruit season has also started: Lamb said nectarines and peaches have good flavour and elevated sugar levels, though prices are currently about $10 per kilogram and could halve by month’s end.

Kale and zucchinis are in good supply, but bananas have risen in price as Queensland supply is in a lull. The report lists asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, fennel, leeks, lettuce, rockmelon, snow peas and watermelon among other produce to buy. It advises watching early-season nectarines and peaches, while avoiding weather-impacted bananas, low-supply wombok cabbages, and end-of-season mandarins and pears.