As temperatures begin to drop and the days grow shorter, it is time to start thinking about the hearty winter meals many people look forward to each year. Whether you are planning a rich, warming stew or a deliciously smooth soup, a wide variety of quality, fresh and seasonal produce sourced through the Brisbane Markets is available at your local, independent fruit and vegetable store displaying the A better choice! logo.
This week’s pick of the week is Cauliflower from the Lockyer Valley. This versatile vegetable is an excellent option for those focused on healthy eating, as it is low in calories and adapts well to a range of meals. Cauliflower can be blended into creamy soups and sauces, transformed into a low-carbohydrate alternative to noodles or rice, or enjoyed boiled, steamed, sautéed, roasted or even raw. When selecting cauliflower, look for a head that feels heavy for its size, with a firm, compact structure and creamy white florets. To maximise shelf life, store cauliflower in a perforated bag in the refrigerator with the stem facing upwards and avoid washing it before storage. For a standout dish, try these Garlicky Cauliflower Steaks which are sure to impress.
Eggplants are in good supply this week, with produce arriving at the Markets from areas around Bundaberg and Victoria. Jazz up your weekend charcuterie boards with a Roasted Eggplant, Pomegranate and Pecan Dip or a Roasted Eggplant, Lemon and Garlic Dip when entertaining this week. Alternatively, enjoy more traditional preparations by either stuffing, coating in breadcrumbs, or topping with parmesan to enjoy some classic Eggplant dishes.
Green Beans from Gatton are also in excellent supply, with quality currently outstanding. Green beans offer a fresh, slightly sweet flavour and a crisp-tender texture when cooked correctly. Mild and sometimes subtly bitter, they pair well with savoury flavours such as garlic, butter and lemon.
Boost your vitamin C intake with new-season Imperial Mandarins, which are in abundant supply from growing regions across Central and Northern Queensland. With their sweet flavour and easy-to-peel flesh, they are an ideal fruit to enjoy on their own or share with family and friends.
The quality of Victorian Plums is superb this week, with supply plentiful. Sweet and juicy, plums are rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fibre, making them a smart choice for a healthy mid-morning snack.
Fill your shopping basket this week with a range of fresh, quality and seasonal produce that will add colour and flavour to your meals while providing essential vitamins and minerals. Shop at your local, independent fruit and vegetable store displaying the A better choice! logo, where you can be confident the produce has been sourced through the Brisbane Markets, Queensland’s Heart of Fresh Produce.
About Brisbane Markets
As Queensland’s only central fruit and vegetable market, the Brisbane Markets is the state’s most important centre for the marketing and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables. It records an annual trade of over 700 million kilograms of produce valued at more than $2 billion.
An important economic and employment hub, more than 4,500 people work or do business at the markets each day through over 170 businesses. This includes over 45 wholesalers who receive fresh produce from over 7,000 growers and trade five days a week to more than 800 registered buyers.
About Brisbane Markets Limited
Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) is the owner of the Brisbane Markets site and is responsible for its ongoing management and development.
BML provides infrastructure and services to facilitate the marketing of fresh food, flowers and other ancillary products for fruit, vegetable and flower wholesalers, retailers, provedores, secondary wholesalers, food processors, transporters, exporters, industry organisations and market support businesses.
More information can be found on our website: www.brisbanemarkets.com.au.
About A better choice!
The A better choice! retailers are hardworking local family business owners, who are passionate about fruit and vegetables, they are our experts in their field and provide excellent customer service… with a smile.
Here’s the thing: no one can match A better choice! fruit and vegetable retailers for FRESH! Every morning, they hand pick a diverse selection of high-quality fresh fruit and vegetables from the Brisbane Markets, sourced from thousands of Australian farms.
Make your first choice A better choice! with local retailers throughout Southeast Queensland including Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Tweed Heads. Please click on the link to find your local fruit retailer www.abetterchoice.com.au/store-locator/ . By shopping at your local fruit and veg shop, you are making A better choice!
About Brismark
Brismark is a member organisation which represents and serves the needs of the wholesaling sector of the fresh fruit and vegetable industry – in particular, the primary wholesalers that operate out of the Brisbane Markets at Rocklea. Brismark provides industry representation, and a range of financial and business services to support the wholesaling sector of the fresh fruit and vegetable industry and their associated businesses and actively contributes to strengthen the Central Market system. Brismark also oversees the A better choice! retailer program in Queensland.
