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What is in season this month

Seasonal South African fresh produce arranged for a monthly in-season blog feature

Spring brings citrus, strawberries and the last of the broccoli and cauliflower. Look out for new potatoes, asparagus and spring onions from local farms.

We update our fresh food aisle as these arrive, so you get produce picked at its best, not sitting in storage for months.

ACCESSORIES

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Citrus is having its moment right now. Oranges, lemons and grapefruit from the Eastern Cape are heavy, fragrant and easy to peel. A fruit that feels heavy for its size usually has more juice inside, so pick those over the light ones. Keep them in a cool spot away from direct sun and they will keep for two weeks or longer. Squeeze a few into your morning juice or grate the zest over a salad.

flatlay of seasonal South African produce and simple cooking ingredients on a wooden kitchen counter

Butternut and other hard skinned squash are cheap and plentiful this month, and they store well on a counter for weeks without going off. Roast a whole one with the skin on, scoop out the flesh and you have the base for soup, a pasta sauce or a simple side for the week ahead. It is one of the easiest ways to stretch a meal without losing flavour.

Roasted Butternut Soup - See The Recipe

framed seasonal produce guide on a kitchen wall beside fresh flowers and groceries

Spinach and kale are at their best in the cooler months and hold their shape well once cooked, which makes them easy to add to almost anything. A big bag wilts down to very little, so buy more than you think you need. Stir it through pasta, a curry or scrambled eggs for extra greens without much extra work.

Greens That Keep Well - Shop Fresh Food

Apples and pears from the Western Cape orchards are crisp and sweet right now, and they keep for ages in the fridge drawer. Pack one in a lunch box, slice them into a salad or bake them with a little cinnamon for a simple pudding that needs no extra sugar.

Crisp And In Season - Add To Basket

seasonal South African fresh produce arranged for a blog post about what is in season this month

Sweet potatoes are hardy, filling and good value this month, and they roast, mash or go into a soup just as easily as ordinary potatoes. They hold onto more of their nutrients when the skin is left on, so give them a good scrub rather than a peel.

A Hardy Winter Staple - Explore The Range

small stack of recipe books topped with fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables

LIGHTING

wide wall-style display of seasonal grocery ingredients arranged in colour groups

Dairy and eggs do not really go in and out of season, but they are worth mentioning here because they pair so well with everything above. A simple baked egg dish with whatever greens or squash you have on hand makes a quick dinner on a cold evening. Keep a block of hard cheese on hand to grate over soups and roasted vegetables for a bit of extra richness.

seasonal South African fruit bunches hanging against a pale grey background
three hanging cotton mesh bags filled with seasonal fruit and greens
multiple bunches of seasonal root vegetables and leafy greens hanging in rows
seasonal South African produce on a wooden table with a small jar of herbs, illustrating what is in season this month

Citrus Season

Look out for navel oranges, Cape grapefruit and juicy lemons through the colder months. They are picked when the weather is cool, which keeps the skin tight and the fruit full of juice. Store them loose in a bowl rather than sealed in plastic, since a bit of air keeps them from going soft too quickly. A wedge of lemon finishes off a soup, a roast or a glass of water nicely.

Leafy Greens

Spinach, kale and spring onions grow fast in the cooler weather and arrive looking properly fresh. Wash them well, dry them properly and they will keep in the fridge for the best part of a week in a sealed container. Do not chop greens until you are ready to cook them, since cut leaves lose their crunch and their colour much faster than whole ones.

Root Vegetables

Carrots, beetroot and butternut are doing well right now and all three keep for weeks in a cool, dark spot. Roasting brings out their natural sweetness, so toss them in a little oil with whatever herbs you have and let the oven do the rest. Leftovers blend into a quick soup the next day, so it is worth roasting a bigger tray than you need.

Stone Fruit

The last of the season's stone fruit, plums and the earliest apricots, are still coming through from the Boland farms. They ripen quickly once they reach room temperature, so keep them in the fridge if you are not eating them within a day or two. A ripe one bruises easily, so handle them gently when you pack your own bag at home.

hanging market-style display of seasonal vegetables and fruit for a produce seasonality blog post
two circular plates of seasonal fruit and vegetables on a soft neutral background
dramatic vertical arrangement of seasonal leafy greens and long vegetables for a fresh food blog post
portrait blog image of seasonal South African fruit and vegetables on a dark kitchen counter

That is a quick look at what we are enjoying this month. The list will shift again once the weather turns, so check back here for an update before your next order. If you are ever unsure what to do with something new in your basket, our team is happy to help, just drop us a line at info@example.co.za and we will share a few ideas.

FURNITURE

wide South African home kitchen table unpacked with a next-day supermarket delivery of seasonal groceries

Shopping with the seasons is one of the easiest ways to eat well without spending more than you need to. Produce that is ready to pick right now has not sat in storage for weeks, so it holds onto more flavour and more of its goodness. We keep an eye on what the farms are harvesting and bring it through to the shop as soon as it is ready for your basket.

A good rule when you are not sure what is in season is to look at what costs less than usual and looks the most plentiful on the shelf. That is usually a sign the farms have plenty of it right now. Build a meal or two around that item each week and you will naturally eat with the seasons, save a little on your bill and still end up with a plate full of good, fresh food.

bright modern supermarket fresh produce section with seasonal South African fruit and vegetables arranged in abundant di

Storing seasonal produce properly makes it last much longer than you would expect. Leafy greens like a damp cloth and a sealed container in the fridge, while root vegetables and squash prefer a cool, dark cupboard away from the fridge altogether. Citrus keeps best loose in a bowl on the counter. A few small habits like these mean less gets thrown out at the end of the week.

minimal supermarket aisle endcap displaying seasonal fruit baskets with open white wall space

If you are planning meals for the week, start with whatever is freshest rather than deciding on a dish first and shopping to match it. It is a small shift, but it makes cooking easier and your meals more interesting, since you are working with whatever is at its best right now. Keep a few pantry basics like pasta, tinned tomatoes and good olive oil on hand to turn fresh finds into dinner quickly.

We hear from a lot of customers who want to cook more with what is actually fresh, rather than following the same few recipes every week. Browsing what is in season is a simple way to find a bit of variety without much extra planning. Pair a seasonal vegetable with a pantry staple you already have, like pasta or rice, and you have the makings of dinner sorted in a few minutes.

Next month the list will move on again as the weather changes and new produce comes through from our growers. We will keep updating this page so you always know what is worth adding to your basket. In the meantime, if there is something you would love to see us stock more of, let us know at info@example.co.za and we will do our best to bring it in for you.

seasonal vegetable tasting table in a supermarket with fresh produce, herbs and recipe ingredients

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