As October ushers in the vibrant spirit of spring, your local fruit and veg shop is flourishing with an enticing selection of fresh produce from the Brisbane Markets. Let’s embark on a culinary journey through this month’s finest offerings and discover some creative ways to enjoy these ingredients, making your October meals truly unforgettable.
Our pick of the week is Cauliflower, which is available and priced to sell thanks to overlapping growing seasons. The Lockyer Valley peak growing season is starting to slow down, but the Victorian season is just starting to pick up, so there’s a good supply coming from both regions. If you’re entertaining this weekend, make the most of this staple veg and serve up these delicious Air Fried Cauliflower Arancini.
For a crunchy snack, don’t forget to pick up some Cucumber coming in from Bundaberg this week. If you’re making sandwiches, go for Continental Cucumbers, or for adding to salads, opt for Lebanese Cucumbers as they have a crisp texture and a sweeter flavour. Either variety is great for your health as they’re rich in nutrients and antioxidants.
Certain green varieties of Legumes are growing well at the moment, so keep an eye out for great prices on, Snow Peas and Sugar Snap Peas from Bundaberg, as well as Broad Beans from New South Wales. A tasty yet healthy side for spring barbeques is this Snow Pea, Broccolini and Macadamia Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing.
You should see plenty of Brown Onions at affordable prices, thanks to an overlap of Gatton grown produce transitioning to the South Australian season. Onions may have a reputation for causing bad breath, but they also help to reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Make good use of Onions this week with this incredibly easy Onion Tart recipe.
Hass Avocados have been included in these reports a lot lately, but that’s because they are still available at fantastic prices, with abundant supplies coming from Victoria. Why not have some fun this weekend and try your hand at these Avocado and Smoked Salmon Sushi Rolls?
Although the citrus season is slowing down, there is still a good supply of North Queensland grown Limes making their way to your local fruit and veg shop. While Lime prices may not be as low as they were in winter, they are great quality this week. Make the most of this zesty fruit with a Creamy Lime Dip served with fresh fruit and sweet biscuits.
Mango season is well and truly underway, so you’ll be seeing plenty of sweet, juicy Mangoes from Northern Territory, as well as the start of North Queensland grown fruit. Mangoes can be enjoyed in so many ways, so why not add them to your breakfast rotation with this wonderful Mango and Pistachio Overnight Oats recipe?
We’re seeing more and more Stone Fruit coming into the Brisbane Markets, with the first batches of White Peaches from Stanthorpe making their way to fruit and veg shops. The dry weather we’ve been seeing this year makes for the perfect growing conditions, so you can expect much sweeter Stone Fruit this season in general, though White Peaches are typically sweeter than the more common Yellow Peaches.
Rockmelon is also great eating at the moment, coming in from North Queensland. Melons are a good source of potassium, vitamin B and C, but also have a high water count and low calories, so they make for a wonderful fresh snack throughout the day that won’t ruin your diet.
Berries continue to be great value and an excellent choice for a healthy snack this week and you’ll find plenty of Queensland grown Blueberries and Strawberries on the shelves. They’re loaded with antioxidants to help you stay nourished throughout the day, so why not start the day with this sweet breakfast of Blueberry Pancake Pudding with Mascarpone?
Your local A better choice! fruit and veg shop hand picks their produce from the Brisbane Markets at Rocklea, which comes from thousands of Australian farms. Why not call in and see your local fruit and veg shop for the best quality, choice, freshness, and service available!
