The navel variety is at its best – look for oranges with an indentation like a bellybutton at the base. Choose oranges that have bright skin with a slightly pebbly texture and feel heavy for their size. Navels have sweet and juicy flesh and very few seeds.

Oranges will keep well stored loose in a fruit bowl at room temperature for about two to three days, but can also be kept in the fridge for up to two weeks. Store them in the fruit and vegetables compartment if your fridge has one.

Wholemeal self-raising flour is used in this delicious Citrus And Almond Cake which is also diabetic-friendly.

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With more than a dozen tomato varieties available, it can be tricky telling them apart. The most common ones are gourmet, a round all-purpose fruit; roma, an elongated tomato with lower water content suitable for sauces, soups and drying; cherry and grape, which are bite-size varieties great for salads and sandwiches; and truss, with vines often intact and an intense, juicy flavour.

An expert buyer at Woolworths’ Australia, Mario Saad, advises to look for an even, rich red colour and to give them a sniff. “A strong aroma means a tasty fruit,” he says. Store away from direct sunlight at room temperature – not in the fridge!

Watch: How To Blanch Tomatoes In 5 Mins

When people think of salads, they think of an overload of bland veggies and a general feeling of being unsatisfied after eating it. But salads don’t have to be tasteless and boring. Try our roasted tomato and quinoa salad and fall in love with your greens again.

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These succulent fruits, also known as tangerines, are the perfect spring snack and are also most popular during the Lunar New Year period when they are given as a wishing for prosperity. There are three main varieties of mandarin oranges commonly found – imperial, small in size with a loose, easy-to-peel skin; Ellendale, larger than imperials with brighter skin; and murcott, small with yellow-orange skin, red flesh and a sweet taste.

Pick mandarin oranges that feel heavy for their size – a sign they are packed with juice. You can keep them in room temperature for several days, up to a week. Or keep in the fridge in the fruit and vegetables compartment so they can last longer.

The common pear found and consumed here is the nashi pear, an Asian pear variety with crisp and juicy flesh. Nashi pears look like a cross between a pear and an apple. Choose firm fruit relatively heavy for its size, with greenish to yellow skin that’s slightly rough but free of splits or soft patches.

If slicing up the pears for salads, brush with lemon juice to prevent them from discolouring. They can be stored in the fridge for up to one week. Store them in the fruit and vegetables compartment if your fridge has one.

Putting together this gorgeous blue cheese, pear and macadamia salad is almost effortless with this easy recipe.

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Even though it is eaten more commonly in European countries and in the US, the pumpkin is fast becoming more popular here. Look for pumpkins that feel heavy for their size and have dry, tough-looking skin, with no soft spots or bruises. Keep whole pumpkins in a cool, dark, well-ventilated spot for up to two months, while cut pieces should be covered in plastic wrap and stored in the fridge for two to four days.

Tip: To cut pumpkin, use a cook’s knife in a rocking motion. Use an ice-cream scoop or spoon for scraping out fibrous flesh and the same knife for cutting into smaller pieces.

Creamy pumpkin soup with an added walnut crunch. This dish is perfect for lunch or a light dinner, and is a healthy alternative to your regular cream soups. It’s also suitable for diabetics.

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