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Seasonal ingredients
Our first foray into food writing was based around the use of seasonal ingredients. We moved to Australia in late 1989 having worked and travelled in England, France and Turkey for some years. Adjusting to a move from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere proved to have its challenges. As chefs, trying to plan menus was often a difficulty; produce was frequently called by other names, the array of seafood was different and the seasons were opposite. Being practical people by nature, we started to compile lists of seasonal ingredients. We did this by walking through produce markets and noting down what was best each week, ensuring that what made it onto the list were fruit and vegetables at their peak of flavour, ripeness, quality and value. This also gave us the opportunity to get to know our favourite stall holders and make contact with growers' organisations and speciality farmers. The more we learned about seasonality the more convinced we became that it was the key to great cooking.

This ran contrary to what food retailers wanted the public to believe at the time. It was an era when shoppers were being offered the same ingredients all year round. As if tomatoes and strawberries force-grown in winter tasted anything like those grown in the heat of summer, or asparagus made to appear in autumn had any of the flavour and crispness it does in spring. We believed then, and are even more adamant today that it is virtually impossible to produce delicious food with out-of-season ingredients. Over time, our lists became an edible snapshot of the changing seasons and the best ingredients on offer. Before too long friends and chefs were asking for copies to use themselves. It became apparent that these years of research should be published properly, and it was then that the original idea for The Seasonal Produce Diary was born. The first edition of The Seasonal Produce Diary was released in 1995 and was well received by the food media and food lovers. This response gave us the encouragement to continue with the idea and see where it would lead. The Seasonal Produce Diary went from strength to strength each year and became a much-anticipated yearly release for thousands of foodies. The combination of easy-to-use seasonal lists and creative recipes struck a chord with many and became a must-have Christmas gift.

The Seasonal Produce Diary 2008
Yes, its that time of year again when we can finally unveil the latest Seasonal Produce Diary. Its great to be able to show what we've been working away on with the team at Hardie Grant Books for much of the year. There are a number of great improvements to the 2008 edition, including a flexibound format with a coloured elastic closure, a beautiful new design from Trisha Garner and lush colour food photography by Gorta Yuuki.

This stunning diary for food lovers provides inspiration on what to eat and cook based on the best fresh produce available at the market each month of the year. With increasing public attention being placed on sustainable eating habits and the trend to eat locally produced food, the Seasonal Produce Diary is the ideal accompaniment to your cookbook collection. It features over 60 delicious recipes (there's a sneak preview on the September 2007 newsletter), month-by-month lists of the best seasonal ingredients, combined with wine tips, a guide to food and wine festivals around Australia, plus the opening hours of Australias best produce markets.

The Seasonal Produce Diary 2008 by Allan Campion and Michele Curtis. Published by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $29.95.
The Seasonal Produce Diary 2008 is now sold out.

Find of the Week: Allan Campion and Michele Curtis's The Seasonal Produce Diary 2008 - pictures, recipes, markets and space for dates.
Judith Elen, Indulgence The Weekend Australian October.

In-season - Australia
Australia is uniquely placed in the world with a vast range of different climatic zones, all producing ingredients at different times of the year. From the coolest in Tasmania and Victoria through to the tropical north in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland. Our lists reflect this array of climates and list the ingredients which are at their peak of flavour, ripeness, quality and value each month. Note - please respect the copyright of this information, if you would like to reproduce it anywhere else contact us on allan@campionandcurtis.com.

September - Early spring - fruit
apple - lady williams, cumquat, grapefruit, lemon, mandarins -ellendale - murcot, oranges - blood - seville, papaya, pawpaw, pineapple - smooth leaf, tangelo.

September - Early spring - vegetables
artichoke, asian greens - bok choy - choy sum - gai laan - wonga bok, asparagus - green - purple, avocados - fuerte - hass - sharwill, beans - broad - green, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower garlic, ginger, leek, lettuce, mushrooms - morel, onions - salad - spring, peas, potato, pumpkin, silverbeet, spinach.

October - mid spring - fruit
berries - strawberry, cumquat, grapefruit - pink - yellow, lemon, loquat, mango, orange - valencia, papaya, pawpaw, Pineapples - smooth - rough leaf, starfruit.

October - mid spring - vegetables
artichoke, asian greens - bok choy - choy sum - gai laan - wonga bok, asparagus -green - white - purple, avocados - fuerte - hass - sharwill, beans - broad - green, broccoli, choko, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, onions - salad - spring, peas, silverbeet, spinach, watercress.

November - late spring - fruit
banana, berries - strawberry, cherry, grapefruit, loquat, lychee, mango, melons - honeydew - rockmelon - watermelon, orange - valencia, papaya, pawpaw, pineapples - smooth - rough leaf, starfruit.

November - late spring - vegetables
artichoke, asparagus, avocado - hass, beans, choko, cucumber, lettuce, onions - salad - spring, peas - green - snow - sugar snap, spinach, sweetcorn, tomato, watercress, zucchini flowers.

December - early summer - fruit
apricot, banana, berries - gooseberry - loganberry - raspberry - strawberry, cherry, currants - black currant - red currant, lemon, lychee, mango, melon - honeydew - rockmelon - watermelon, orange - valencia, passionfruit, pineapples - smooth - rough leaf, rambutan, starfruit.

December - early summer - vegetables
asparagus, avocado - hass, beans - green - snake, capsicum, celery, choko, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, onion - salad - spring, peas - green - snow - sugar snap, radish, squash, sweetcorn, tomato, watercress, zucchini, zucchini flowers.

January - mid summer - fruit
apricot, banana, berries - blackberry - blueberry - boysenberry - gooseberry - loganberry - mulberry - raspberry - strawberry, cherry - morello (sour), currants - red currant - black currant, lemons, lychee, mango, mangosteen, melons - honeydew - rockmelon - watermelon, nectarine, passionfruit, peach, pineapple - smooth leaf, plum, prickly pear, rambutan, starfruit, tamarillo.

January - mid summer - vegetables
asparagus, avocado - reed, beans - butter - green - snake, capsicum, celery, choko, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, okra, onions - salad - spring, peas - green - snow - sugar snap, radish, squash, sweetcorn, tomato, zucchini, zucchini flowers.

February - late summer - fruit
apple - aba, banana, berries - blackberry - blueberry - boysenberry - loganberry - raspberry - strawberry, fig, grapes - cardinal - muscat - sultana - waltham cross, guava, kiwifruit, lemon, lychee, mango, mangosteen, melons - honeydew - rockmelon - watermelon, nectarine, orange - valencia, passionfruit, peach, pears - howell - red sensation - williams, plums, prickly pear, rambutan, rhubarb, starfruit, tamarillo.

February - late summer - vegetables
avocado - reed, beans - borlotti - butter - green - snake, capsicum, celery, chilli, choko, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, leek, lettuce, okra, onions - brown - salad - spring, peas - green - snow - sugar snap, radish, squash, sweetcorn, tomato, zucchini, zucchini flowers.

March - early autumn - fruit
apples - aba, cox's orange pippins - gala - jonagold - jonathan - mutso, banana, berries - raspberry - strawberry, breadfruit, feijoa, figs, grapes - cardinal - currant - muscat - purple cornichon - sultana - waltham cross, guava, kiwifruit, lemon, limes, mango, mangosteen, melons - honeydew - rockmelon, nashi, nectarine, nuts - almond - chestnut - hazelnut - pistachio - walnut, orange - valencia, papaya, passionfruit, peach, pears - beurre bosc - howell - josephine - packham - red sensation - williams, persimmon, plums, pomegranate, rambutan, rhubarb, tamarillo.

March - early autumn - vegetables
asian greens - bok choy - choy sum - gai laan - wonga bok, avocados - fuerte - shepard, beans - borlotti - butter - green - snake, capsicum, celery, chilli, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, leek, lettuce, okra, olive, onions - brown - red - spring, peas, potato, pumpkin, shallot, silverbeet, spinach, squash, sweetcorn, sweet potato, tomato, zucchini.

April - mid autumn - fruit
apples aba, bonza - braeburn - cox's orange pippins - fuji - gala - golden delicious - granny smith - jonagold - jonathan - mutso - red delicious - snow, banana, cumquat, custard apple, feijoa, figs, grapes - muscat - purple cornichon - sultana - waltham cross, guava, kiwifruit, lemons. limes, mandarin - imperial, nashi, nuts - almond - chestnut - hazelnut - peanut - pistachio - walnut, orange - valencia, papaya, passionfruit, pears - beurre bosc - howell - josephine - packham - red sensation - williams, persimmon, plums, pomegranate, quince, rhubarb.

April - mid autumn - vegetables
asian greens - bok choy - choy sum - gai laan - wonga bok, avocado - fuerte, beans - green - snake, beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, celery, chilli, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, fennel, garlic, ginger, leek, lettuce, mushrooms - wild - field - pine - slippery jacks, okra, olives, onions - brown - spring, parsnip, peas, potato, pumpkin, shallot, silverbeet, spinach, squash, sweet potato, swede, tomato, turnip, zucchini.

May - late autumn - fruit
apples - bonza - braeburn - cox's orange pippins - fuji - gala - golden delicious - granny smith - jonagold - jonathan - mutso - pink lady - red delicious - snow - sundowner, banana, cumquat, custard apple, feijoa, grapes - purple cornichon - waltham cross, kiwifruit, lemons, limes, mandarin - imperial, melon - champagne, nuts - chestnut - hazelnut - peanut - walnut, pears - howell - josephine - packham - red sensation - williams, persimmon, quince, rhubarb.

May - late autumn - vegetables
asian greens - bok choy, - choy sum - gai laan - wonga bok, avocados - fuerte - sharwill, beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, daikon, eggplant, fennel, garlic, ginger, horseradish, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms - wild - field - pine - slippery jacks, okra, olives, onions - brown - spring, parsnip, peas, potato, pumpkin, shallots, silverbeet, spinach, squash, swede, sweet potato, taro, tomato, turnip, witlof, zucchini.

June - early winter - fruit
apples - bonza - braeburn - cox's orange pippins - fuji - gala - golden delicious - granny smith - jonagold - jonathan - lady williams - mutso - pink lady - red delicious - snow - sundowner, custard apple, grapefruit, kiwifruit, lemons, limes, mandarin - ellendale, melons -champagne, nashi, nuts - chestnut - hazelnut - walnut, oranges - navel, pears - beurre bosc - josephine - packham, persimmon, pomelo, quince, rhubarb.

June - early winter- vegetables
asian greens - bok choy - choy sum - gai laan - wonga bok, avocados - fuerte - sharwill, beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, fennel, garlic, ginger, horseradish, jerusalem artichokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, okra, olives, onions, parsnip, peas, potato, pumpkin, shallot, silverbeet, spinach, swede, sweet potato, turnip, witlof.

July - mid winter - fruit
apples -bonza - braeburn - fuji - golden delicious - lady williams - pink lady - red delicious - snow - sundowner, cumquat, custard apple, grapefruit, lemons, limes, mandarin - ellendale - imperial, melons - champagne, nashi, oranges - navel, papaya, pineapple, pomelo, rhubarb, tangelo.

July - mid winter- vegetables
asian greens - bok choy -choy sum - gai laan - wonga bok, avocados - fuerte - hass - sharwill, beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, fennel, garlic, ginger, horseradish, jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, okra, olives, onions, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, shallot, silverbeet, spinach, swede, sweet potato, turnip, witlof.

August - late winter - fruit
apples - fuji - lady williams - sundowner, cumquat, custard apple, grapefruit - yellow - pink, lemons, limes, mandarins - ellendale - imperial - murcot, nashi, oranges - blood - navel, pawpaw, pineapple - smooth leaf, pomelo, rhubarb, tangelo.

August - late winter- vegetables
asian greens - bok choy - choy sum - gai laan - wonga bok, avocados - fuerte - hass - sharwill, beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprout, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, fennel, garlic, ginger, horseradish, jerusalem artichoke, kohlrabi, leeks, okra, olives, onions, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, shallot, silverbeet, spinach, swede, sweet potato, turnip, witlof.
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