With the rise of farm-to-table movements and the demand for organic, fresh and non-processed foods, the use of seasonal produce in restaurants and foodservice venues is becoming more and more common.
Consumers now perceive local seasonal food as a more natural, healthier, and tastier option, and with health trends on the rise, it’s evident that these elements heavily factor into many consumers’ purchase decisions. Additionally, 49% of consumers now think a seasonal menu is more appetising and they will consequently opt for things like winter degustations or hearty ‘soups of the week’ over more generic menu items during the winter season.
Sourcing the freshest, seasonally ripe ingredients for your venue has many benefits to it. See below for our top advantages of using seasonal produce, from lower costs to menu variation.
Plus scroll down for our top seasonal winter vegetables and fruits to include in your menu items this season!
Seasonal Produce Benefits
1. Freshness and Quality
Did you know seasonal produce is typically harvested at its peak ripeness, ensuring optimal freshness, flavour and nutritional value? Using seasonal ingredients in your foodservice, hospitality or retail venue is a simple and affordable way to provide customers with higher-quality and more flavoursome dishes.
Depending on your menu, you can easily tailor it to highlight the natural flavours of the produce and take advantage of ingredients that are in season. Some of our favourite winter vegetables, like pumpkin, are loved by many and are easy to include in recipes, like our Pumpkin and Feta Pizza Recipe.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Seasonal produce is often more readily available, leading to larger harvests and lower prices. By incorporating more seasonal ingredients in your menu items, you can easily take advantage of cheaper fruits and veggies and see a reduction in your overall food costs.
Having menu items that you can easily swap out seasonal ingredients in is also a good tactic to help lower your venue’s costs. For example, we love topping our dessert pizzas with strawberries, like our Loaded Dessert Pizza, but strawberries aren’t always the cheapest option available. Luckily, other ingredients like bananas are usually cheaper and go perfectly with this dessert pizza - win-win!
3. Menu Variety and Creativity
Each season brings a new and unique array of fruits and vegetables for you to include on your menu!
Cooking with seasonal produce allows venues to offer a more diverse menu that regularly changes and updates. This also means you and your staff can tap into your creative side and regularly incorporate new and exciting flavours on your menu.
And, of course, there’s always the trusty fruits and vegetables that are available year-round, like tomatoes, carrots and apples, that you can keep on your menu and use in lots of different recipes.
For more recipe ideas and inspiration, make sure to check out our Top Best-Selling Pizzas for Restaurants, Best Pizza and Wine Pairings and full range of Recipes.
4. Marketing and Differentiation
A simple but effective way to set yourself apart from competitors is to emphasise the use of seasonal produce in your venue. This can also be used as a valuable marketing tool by highlighting your venue’s commitment to quality, sustainability and freshness.
With more than 50% of Australian consumers considering sustainability an important factor when making any purchase, showing that your venue uses sustainable, seasonal produce is a great way to show your business’s values and relate with customers.
For more food marketing tips, check out article Why Food and Restaurant Businesses Need Marketing - Explained and our range of Event Marketing Tools.
Australian Seasonal Winter Vegetables and Fruit
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Pumpkin
- Potatoes
- Celery
- Onions
- Fennel
- Avocado
- Apples
- Rhubarb
- Grapefruit
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Bananas
- Kiwi Fruit
Australian Seasonal Spring Vegetables and Fruit
- Apples
- Avocado
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Cherries
- Strawberries
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Artichokes
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Beetroot
- Spinach
- Zucchini
- Eggplant
Australian Seasonal Summer Vegetables and Fruit
- Avocado
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Apples
- Peaches
- Mango
- Raspberries
- Grapes
- Figs
- Parsnips
- Capsicum
- Lettuce
- Snow Peas
- Shallots
Australian Seasonal Autumn Vegetables and Fruit
- Guava
- Papaya
- Pomegranate
- Bananas
- Apples
- Kiwi Fruit
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Corn
- Mushrooms
- Sweet Potato
- Zucchini
- Spinach
