Fresh,
Local & In Season Spring is a tricky season to predict. If winter lingers the asparagus spears will remain hidden in the ground, but as soon as things begin to warm up, all that was lying dormant will start to flourish. Asparagus spears will shoot up, berries will begin to ripen while growing times for almost everything will shorten.
Here in the Waikato, spring is proof positive we grow more than just grass. The Waikato is the second biggest producer of strawberries in New Zealand and provides the perfect conditions for growing asparagus. We are also a major producer of potatoes, with new season spuds arriving at the end of spring. Add to this a number of salad green, baby veg, tomato, mushroom and herb growers, there is no excuse not to support local. Gus Tissink Gus is our resident vegie guy. Like most of our best chefs in the region, when we need beautiful produce, Gus and his team at Bidfresh Hamilton are where we turn.
Strawberries Spring marks the beginning of berry season. Everyone loves beautifully ripe strawberries and cream, but these spring berries are just as delicious in a savoury salad as they are on your pav. They pair as well with balsamic vinegar, pepper and basil as they do with chocolate, cream and vanilla. Speaking of chocolate, if choc dipped strawberries are your thing, look for specialty long stemmed strawberries to make these really spectacular. Be careful though, akin to small red sponges, strawberries soak up all the water they come into contact with so, don’t wash them and then store them or they will turn to mush and rot.
A member of the rose family and technically not a berry, each strawberry has, on average, 200 seeds on the outside.
Bidfresh 2 the Waikato! PROUD SUPPORTERS OF
