As the Easter Bunny gears up for its annual chocolate run, now is the perfect time to fuel your body with healthy, nutrient-packed fruit and vegetables from your local A better choice! store, sourced directly from the Brisbane Markets. If you are looking to mix a little fruit and vegetables with your chocolate for some delicious Easter treats, head over to the A better choice! website for some inspiring ideas and creative recipes to try!
This week’s Pick of the Week is Gourmet Tomatoes, sourced from Stanthorpe, the Lockyer Valley, and Bundaberg. With their edible skin, Tomatoes are the low-maintenance vegetable that goes with just about anything. Sliced, diced, crushed, or whole, they are ready to go! Add them to a salad or sandwich, or enjoy them on their own. For optimal flavour, ripen your tomatoes at room temperature and store them in the crisper.
Broccoli, another easy-to-cook and tasty vegetable, is in season now. Locally grown in Stanthorpe and Toowoomba, with some supply from South Australia and Tasmania, there is no excuse not to enjoy this super green vegetable at your dinner table each night. Rich in vitamins A, C, and B6, as well as iron and magnesium, it is the perfect addition to any meal.
This week, get great value by adding Eggplant to your shopping basket. Their unique flavour and spongy texture make them perfect for creating dips. Try an Eggplant, Lemon, and Garlic Dip for your next gathering, or mix things up with a healthy Eggplant Lasagne – a delicious alternative to the traditional dish.
Shallots from the Lockyer Valley and Victoria are in full supply this week and are bursting with flavour. A great addition to countless meals, sprinkle some Shallots on stir-fries, savoury pancakes, rice dishes, or pastries to create a crowd-pleasing dish. They will add a pop of freshness to any meal.
Pineapples, from the Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland, continue to be in plentiful supply and are at their peak quality this week. Add a tropical twist to your meals with Pineapple Rice Salad or toss some in your Chicken Stir Fry. Remember to include Pineapple in your breakfasts, morning teas, dinners, and desserts – packed with vitamins, they are ready to give your immune system a boost in the months ahead.
If you want to boost your vitamin C then look no further than new season Imperial Mandarins, starting to arrive from the Wide Bay region and Northern Queensland. With their sweet, easy-to-peel flesh, they are the perfect fruit to share – if you are willing! Store them in a cool place to extend their freshness for up to one to two weeks.
Make A better choice! this week and visit your local, independent fruit and veg shop. You will find a variety of fresh, quality, and locally grown produce from thousands of farms all over Australia sourced directly from the Brisbane Markets.
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.
