Ah, autumn on the North Coast. The air is cool, the water is warm, and the avocados are on!! Our local growers Tony Hinds of Avocado Valley and Kate Thompson of The Organic Avocado have recently returned to the market with their first avocados of the season – the creamy Fuerte. Since this variety stays green when ripe, the best way to test them is to give a very gentle squeeze – if they give a little, they are ready. It’s always a good idea to buy fruits of varying ripeness so you don’t have three or four ready at once – Kate or Tony will happily pick some out for you. Avocados are also available from Jumping Red Ant and Morrow Farm.

Also in season now:

Heirloom tomatoes

You know the tomatoes your grandparents tell you they used to eat? The ones that actually tasted like tomatoes? That’s what heirloom tomatoes are – old varieties, with names like Ox Heart, Beefsteak and Brandywine, which are rich and full of flavour. Mullumbimby Farmers Market’s newest farmer, Amanda Fox, of Fox Farm. is now harvesting her first crop of organic heirloom tomatoes for the market, try them and you’ll understand what all the fuss is about.  Heirloom tomatoes are also grown locally by Coopers Shoot Tomatoes , so check out their stall as well.

Macadamias

This season’s harvest of these delicious and nutritious nuts (which are also native to our region) is now underway. Billinudgel grower Ian McRae has plenty of freshly harvested nuts – natural, dry roasted, or for a treat, honey roasted or choc coated. He also produces macadamia oil, which makes a fantastic healthy cooking oil. Rainforest Foods also has locally grown macadamias and macadamia products.

Yellow Dragon Fruit

A smaller and sweeter version of the red dragon fruit. Delicious served cold straight from the fridge. Available from the Peter and Nora at Jungle Juice.

Kale

This leafy green has been getting a lot of attention in recent years among the health conscious. It’s one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet, loaded with Vitamin A, and C and K, along with high levels of iron, potassium and other minerals. Adding kale to your diet can help in the prevention of heart disease and cancer, aid digestion and improve the health of your skin and hair.  Add raw kale to salads, sandwiches or green smoothies, cook it in minestrone or other soups, sauté with garlic and onions, or try kale chips:  remove the leafy parts from the stem, coat them in olive oil, sprinkle with herbs and salt and bake in a low oven for 15 min.  There are several kale varieties, including curly and flat, and the fresher it is the more of a nutritional punch it will pack. Local growers include Gourmet Salad Hut and Summit Organics.

Granny Smith Apples

Who doesn’t love a Granny Smith? These bright green- skinned, tart and tangy flavoured apples are just perfect in pies, crumbles, sauces, or the kid’s lunchbox. Find new season Granny Smiths at McMahon’s  and Costanzo Apples.

Davidson Plums

This native fruit is extremely sour, but tastes sensational in sauces, jams, cordials and desserts. It’s also extremely good for you, containing more antioxidants than blueberries. Find them at the market’s native food stall, Playing With Fire.

Broccoli

The first of the winter vegies are arriving. Find broccoli at the Everest Farm stall.

Creamed Honey

After a break in production, Gary at the Honey Wagon has his famous Creamed Honey back in stock. As its name suggests, creamed honey has a creamy, velvety texture that is just gorgeous spread on fresh bread or toast.

Also in season:

Limes, chokoes, radishes,  lettuce, bananas, coriander, potatoes, sweet potato, pumpkin. persimmon.