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Why do Valencia oranges look so green?
At the end of their growing season the weather is too hot for Valencia’s and so they turn green to protect themselves from the heat

How do you tell if a pineapple is ripe?
Pull out one of its leaves.  If it pulls out easily, the pineapple is ripe.

How do you tell if a rockmelon or honeydew melon is ripe?
Rockmelons are a bit tricky.  If there is none of the ‘stem’ or ‘bud’ at all left on the rockmelon then it is ripe.  If this area is broken, then it is over-ripe.

Honeydew melons are whitish in colour when ripe.

How do you cook chokoes?
Chokoes are delicious boiled or steamed and dressed with a flavoured butter.  Just put 125g unsalted butter in a mixing bowl and beat with a wooden spoon or electric mixer until soft.  Add 2 teaspoons of fresh orange or lime juice or 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and the grated zest of 1 orange, lime or lemon.

.What is celeriac?
Celeriac, or celery root, is an ugly, gnarled, delicious root.  It is not the bulb or base of regular celery.  It has a distinctive taste, a cross between strong celery and parsley with a nutty twist.  It is available during the winter months.  To prepare and cook: Scrub with a brush.  Cut off the top and bottom.  Peel with a sharp knife.  Celeriac will discolour, so drop pieces into acidulated water (water & lemon juice).  The slices are often blanched before being grated for salads.  Celeriac is good with a strong mustard mayonnaise, seafood, potato purees, poultry stuffings or braised with meat stews.

How do you cook bittermelon?
This is an Asian vegetable that can be boiled, steamed or added to a soup.  However, it is also consumed as a juice as it is believed to have properties that may ‘detoxicate’ the body.

How do you cook kohl rabbi?
This is best used in a salad and best in a slaw (eaten raw), but can be cooked as desired.  Its flavour is similar to fresh broccoli stems with a mellow touch of radish.  It is not a root, but a thickened, enlarged stem, with smaller, leafed stems shooting up from the top.  The leaves are edible.

How do you cook fennel?
Fennel can be trimmed, sliced and served in a salad, or as a salad dressed with oil, vinegar (or lemon juice), salt and freshly ground black pepper it is deliciously refreshing.  It is also nice baked or braised.

Which oranges and mandarins don’t have pips?
All Navel oranges are seedless, and Imperial mandarins are normally seedless

When are Seville oranges available?
These oranges are suitable for marmalade and the Fresh Fruit Market has developed its own super sweet recipe using the skin of this fruit.  They are normally available mid July, depending on weather conditions

When do seedless grapes start?
These grapes come from Queensland and start early November

What is a persimmon?
This is a fruit which looks a bit like a tomato, but has its own unique taste.  It is sweet and juicy and you can eat it with the skin on.  It is also edible before it ripens, as well as when it is ripe

What is a custard apple?
This is a fruit with a very unusual taste because it actually tastes as if apples and custard have been delicately mixed together.  It has large black pips.

Which potatoes are best for baking?
Dutch creams, kennebecs and bintjes are well-known for their excellent baking qualities

Which potatoes are best for potato salad?
Pink eyes and kipfler potatoes are the potato salad kings (or queens!)

Which potatoes are best for mashing?
Any of the following will be suitable:

Dutch creams, up-to-dates, kennebecs, sabagoes and bintjes.  Just a small tip for lovely fluffy mashed potatoes – heat your milk up before adding to the potatoes

Which potatoes are best for frying?
French fries or chips are best made with kennebecs, bintjes or russet potatoes

What is Bocconcini?
It is fresh mozzarella balls in brine

What is prosciutto?
This is often called parma ham and it is cured leg of pork (by air – hung for approximately 6 months)

What is prosciuttto crudo?
This is exactly the same as prosciutto – just a more descriptive name

What is Mini Chol cheese?
This is a soy product and is a substitute for dairy cheese.