Affordable apples and brilliant berries: Australia’s best value fruit and vegetables in March

Apples are in season, making it the perfect time for bakers to try out Nigel Slater’s apple and blackberry pie. Photograph: Jonathan Lovekin/The Observer

At Senserricks Fruit and Flowers in north-west Melbourne, owner Pat Senserrick says that apples, grapes and raspberries should be your go-to at the beginning of autumn – though it’s not the most exciting time of year for fresh produce.

A Melbourne market vendor, Senserrick says markets tend to have more variety than supermarkets as well as better prices.