IF you're feeling the pinch, take a look at what you're putting in your crisper.

According to Joe Lo Ricco from Tweed Growers Wholesale Fruit and Vegetables, you can save plenty of money by being innovative with your fruit and vegies and buying produce when it's in season.

Fruits to enjoy now include apples, mandarins, navel oranges, while vegies to stock up on are cauliflower, carrots, sweet potato and silverbeet.

At Tweed Growers in Machinery Dr, sweet potatoes are just 79c a kilo and silverbeet 99c a bunch.

"Don't be afraid to supplement vegies," Mr Lo Ricco said.

"If the ones you're looking for are out of season or too expensive, you can always swap them, especially in soups and stir-fries."

He said it was easy to make do with what was in season if you were a little creative.

"Silverbeet is fantastic in quiche or pre-boil it and then fry it with garlic and onion," he said.

"You can cook the whole leaf and then fill it and roll it. I fill it with breadcrumbs, garlic, onion and parmesan cheese and then fry it when it's rolled."

Buying in season also means you're getting your produce when it's at its best in terms of freshness and flavour.

Tweed Growers stocks primarily Tweed produce when available.

Where to go in Tweed

HERE'S just some of the fruit stores in our area:

- Caldera Farmers Markets - Murwillumbah Showgrounds every Wednesday from 7am
- Kennedy Drive Fruit Market
- Earth Markets - Tweed City Shopping Centre
- Tweed Fruit Exchange - Murwillumbah
- Fruit Mania - Centro Tweed
- Yuen's Fruit and Vegetables - Tweed Shopping Village, Wharf St, Tweed Heads

Did we miss your favourite? Leave your comments below or email, editorial@ mydailynews.com.au.

Our first reader to respond says:

R McB on email: My favourite, is the Vege Shed on Tweed Valley Way M,bah. They have been selling local produce for years and things have been tough for them with the Caldera Farmers Market getting all the publicity lately.