I live in Argentina and have problems getting hold of really fresh vegetables. This is partly because of the paucity of suppliers here, the lack of fruit and veggie markets (they have one, but it is wholesale only), the fact that the veggies are transported and stored without refrigeration and it´s often hot here. We have frozen peas, and tinned peas, artichoke hearts, button mushrooms, water chestnuts and palm hearts, but that´s about it for veggies that are tinned or frozen. The fresh veggies are often a sorry state: carrots and beetroots are soft, spinach is brown and mushy and tomatoes have spots of white mould near the stems. Avocadoes are usually good, since you can buy them hard and ripen them at home, so sometimes I surive with them only. What are the best options for veggies that are past their best. When should you eat them anyway, for the health benefits, and when should you really leave them? Thanks.

Hi there South American Reader – Q & A Thursday is held on a monthly basis now. And because of a series I’m running next month, the next one won’t be until September. Doesn’t sound like you have a lot of choice. I’d use the tinned and frozen options as much as possible, plus the fresh carrots and beetroots. But I wouldn’t be eating brown spinach or mushy mouldy tomatoes. Tinned tomatoes have good nutritional value.

Any chance you can grow a few things at your place? Spinach, tomatoes, bush beans, strawberries, kale and fresh herbs are all easy to grow and reasonably prolific. You could put them in pots on a balcony, or by a sunny window. Or maybe get together with some friends and grow a few different vegies and herbs between you.

Or can you get together with some friends and go to the wholesale market. Buy a few boxes of vegetables and share them between you?