With the spring sun starting to rise earlier each day, Queensland growers are busy producing an abundance of fresh, vibrant fruit and vegetable sources through the Brisbane Markets to fill the shelves of your local independent A better choice! store.
Our pick of the week is Lebanese Cucumbers grown in the Lockyer Valley. Known for their sweet, low-acid flavour, smooth skin, and tender flesh, Lebanese Cucumbers are smaller, have less-developed seeds, and are more often preferred for eating raw in salads, dips, or as a snack. Their high water and mineral content contribute to hydration, digestion, and overall physical health. To keep them fresh, store Lebanese Cucumbers in the crisper drawer of your fridge in a perforated plastic bag and consume them within five to seven days to retain their refreshing crunch and flavour.
The winter Passionfruit season is almost finished, so take advantage of the excellent value they offer right now. Grown in Bundaberg, Passionfruit are bursting with flavour and are perfect for desserts or refreshing drinks. A couple you can try are a smooth and creamy Passionfruit Moose or a refreshing Passionfruit Gin and Tonic.
There is a stable supply of Lemons from North Queensland currently coming through the Brisbane Markets and their quality is outstanding. The soft and juicy flesh of a Lemon is packed with vitamin C and has many health benefits, such as immunity boosts, and digestive, heart and kidney health. Right now, Lemons are great value and perfect for spring tarts, biscuits and cakes.
Ideal for warmer days and currently in great supply, Green Beans from Gatton and Gympie are an excellent and economical vegetable. Easy to cook and complementary to any main meal. Sauté green beans with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese and serve hot with roast chicken or lamb chops.
Bundaberg-grown Gold Sweet Potato are plentiful right now and packed with natural sweetness. With the quality of the produce excellent, Gold Sweet Potatoes are a high-quality, cost-effective choice for roasting or mashing. For something different, add them to pancakes for a nutritious, delicious breakfast or mix them in with brownies for a fun take on a classic recipe.
It is a good week to pick up some Butternut Pumpkin from Gatton, which is in good supply and eating is excellent. The slight nutty taste and creamy flesh add flavour to your salads, soups and sandwiches. You can also add Butternut Pumpkin to your pasta for an added creamy texture that is guilt-free! And if you really want to step out of the box, give this Chocolate Chilli Pumpkin Stew with Chickpeas a try.
Make the most of a large range of seasonal fruit and vegetables sourced through the Brisbane Markets on offer at your local independent A better choice! store that provides you with great value, excellent quality and the kind of freshness that elevates everyday meals into culinary masterpieces.
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.
