The best of early spring produce, from avocados to Asian greens

The best seasonal produce to look for in September It's (finally) spring, but you might need to wait just a little longer for some fresh produce favourites, such as peas. There are still plenty of signs that the seasons are changing, though. Asparagus and mangoes are beginning to come into season, strawberries are less expensive and citrus varieties are transitioning in and out. So, what can you look for? Vegetables: - Asian greens, such as fenugreek, mustard greens, choy sum and watercress - Asparagus - Broccoli, including baby broccoli - Cauliflower - Celery - Spring onion Fruit: - Avocados - Berries, such as strawberries and blueberries - Mangoes, supply expected to improve during September - Citrus Asian greens Gary (Gurinder) Singh and Navi Kaur, from 5 Rivers Fresh Fruit and Veg at Dandenong Market in Naarm/Melbourne, say Asian greens are still a good option in September. Varieties such as mustard greens and choy sum are usually at their best in winter and spring, Ms Kaur says. Mr Singh says fresh fenugreek "is in good supply", and Ms Kaur says you can sauté or stir-fry it, or mix it into a dough to make chapattis. Chef, cookbook author, and content creator Brendan Pang lives on Gadigal land in Sydney and loves cooking with Asian greens, including watercress. "It's something I used a lot growing up, especially coming from a Mauritian family", he says. Used fresh in baguettes and salads, Mr Pang says it adds a fresh pepperiness "almost like rocket". "[But] it's quite nice in clear broths, especially when you're doing something [with] say pork or a chicken stock you can add a bit of watercress." If you haven't cooked with Asian greens, Mr Pang says gai lan (or Chinese broccoli) is a good place to start as it's similar to broccoli. "It's got the nice crunchy kind of stem or stalk and then it's got the leafy greens on the end," he says. He also warns against the common mistake of overcooking these greens until they're soft and mushy. Asparagus and an abundance of avocados Alex Alexopoulos, from Alexander's Fruit Market says asparagus is starting and is expected to increase in availability (and decrease in price) as the month continues. Mr Pang says spring pastas with asparagus, zucchini and fresh peas "work so nicely". "[With] extra virgin olive oil, some lemon, garlic, just a few things to freshen it up a bit," he says. In spring, Mr Pang also gets excited about fresh peas, which are still a few weeks away. "Whenever I see fresh peas on the shelf or at the local market, I'll grab them straight away because I know they're just so different when you have them fresh. They're just so sweet." Hass avocados, however, are readily available and are very cheap according to Ms Kaur. Broccoli, cauliflower and celery It's also a good time for some staples including broccoli, cauliflower and celery, says Mr Alexopoulos. "Bunch lines" — which includes produce like parsley, English spinach and spring onions — as well as broccoli and cauliflower tend to grow faster and get cheaper at this time of year, he says. The quality of the produce (as well as the quantity) increases with the change in conditions, he says. Make the most of celery now because Mr Alexopoulos says by the end of September, the conditions for it are "not the best". Berries and mangoes More strawberries are also beginning to make their way onto shelves and into markets. While berries are grown year-round, the national sales director of Mattina Fresh Thomas Panna, says warmer weather can equate to sweeter fruit. "The warmth brings it out and you'll start to see the price of berries drop through the spring and summer months because production ramps up." Early spring mangoes are also beginning to appear, but consistent volumes are probably still about a month away, Mr Panna says. Ms Kaur says a firm green mango variety is available, suited for making into mango pickle and chutney. Citrus Imperial mandarins won't be around for much longer, Mr Singh says, but varieties such as Honey Murcott and Daisy mandarins will replace them on our shelves. Mr Panna says Alfourer mandarins will still be in "good supply" for the next six to eight weeks. Some early varieties of oranges are also finishing for the season, but Mr Panna says there will still be good oranges around for the next two months. While Mr Pang is a fan of eating fruit "just as it is," he does use citrus in savory cooking. "Citrus is a great one to just freshen something up, but also counteract a lot of the heavier foods we've been eating in the cooler months."