13 JUNE 2025

Raddichio from NSW, kiwifruit from the Yarra Valley and Mildura mandarins are the best of early winter produce, according to traders at Melbourne Market, Victoria’s wholesale fruit, vegetable and cut flower trading centre. 

Continental cucumbers and eggplants from South Australia are eating well and good value right now, though tomatoes are scarce due to the cold weather. Citrus - especially oranges and mandarins - remain in peak quality and supply and are one of the key fruits of winter.

According to Melbourne Market wholesaler Joe Pignataro from Pignataro FruitX, kiwifruit from Avonsleigh in Victoria’s Yarra Valley is “in season now and at their best”.

Also at its peak is radicchio, which Elliot Cucimotta from HC Produce says it’s the best time of year for the bitter leaf vegetable grown in New South Wales. 

“And artichokes from the Adelaide area will be at their best in about three weeks’ time,” he says.

While tomatoes are expectedly scarce at this time of year, Thien Nguyen from Prime Aus Produce says “South Australian continental cucumbers and eggplant are pretty good value at the moment”.

But the real hero of winter is citrus, and Roy Thierry from Geelong Citrus urges shoppers to look out for the different varieties of oranges that are available throughout the season.

“Not many people know how many different orange varieties there are - a lot of supermarkets just market them as navels,” he says.

For instance, from the Mildura/Lockston border area, the Navelina orange is finishing its season, to be replaced by the Washington orange.

“Compared with Navels and Navelinas, Washington oranges are typically deeper in colour on the outside, larger and sweeter. Navelinas this season were small-sized fruit, so people will soon start to see larger oranges stocked on shelves.”

Georgie Dragwidge from A better choice!  retailer Georgie’s Harvest says Victorian apples and brussels sprouts are the pick of the local produce available now.

“All varieties of local apples are great, and Victorian brussels have just been in season for the past few weeks so are at their yummiest right now,” she says. 

“And it’s week two of the Victorian truffle season - and truffles are a highlight of winter!”

FIRST OF: South Australian artichokes, Mildura mandarins, Washington oranges, Victorian truffles and brussels sprouts

LOTS OF: Victorian silverbeet (Werribee), NSW radicchio, continental cucumbers

LAST OF: Queensland limes, Navalina oranges, Mildura pomegranates 

NOT MUCH OF: Tomatoes, blueberries

To find a local greengrocer, visit abetterchoice.com.au