With less than a month until Christmas, there is no better way to enjoy the festive season than with fresh, quality, and seasonal produce from your local, independent A better choice! store where the fruit and vegetables are sourced through the Brisbane Markets. So, as people begin to deck the halls, why not introduce some of those vibrant colours to the kitchen too, as there is no better way to enjoy the festive season than with the flavours of fresh produce to prepare those delightful home-cooked dishes and baked goods.
Our pick of the week are Limes, from Mareeba in Far North Queensland. These sweet and tangy citrus fruits are in abundance right now, making them the perfect item to add to your shopping trolley! Limes can be kept at room temperature for up to one week or in the fridge for up to two weeks, which is handy as you never know when you might need a Lime (or two)!
Stone fruit is also in abundance here at the Brisbane Markets, with both white and yellow fleshed Peach varieties from Victoria looking sweet and juicy right now! Try this Blackberry, Peach, and Burrata Salad for a light, refreshing, and delicious side dish!
Another delicious stone fruit from Victoria is Nectarines, which are also fantastic value this week. If your Nectarines are not ready to eat just yet, keep them in a cool, dark place in a paper bag for about two days. Once ripe, store it in the fridge. You will know they have ripened when the skin turns from glossy to dull. Give them a gentle squeeze, and if they feel soft, this means they are ready to eat! If you have a sweet tooth, here is a dessert idea for you: White Poached Nectarines with Sweetened Mint Cream and Toasted Hazelnuts.
Growers from Stanthorpe and the Darling Downs are providing the Brisbane Markets with plenty of Celery at the moment. When selecting your Celery, look for ones with large, firm stalks and leaves still attached. If the leaves are brightly coloured and not wilting, the Celery is sure to be fresh and ready to munch on.
Nothing adds flavour to a dish than the humble Onion, and this week Red Onions are everywhere. Grown in the Scenic Rim, Gatton and Lockyer Valley, Red Onions add a bright and tangy freshness to all your summer meals. Dice them up and throw them in to make the ultimate guacamole, thinly slice them for a Greek salad or even pile them onto a homemade gyro – the possibilities are endless. To get the most out of your Red Onions, store them in a dark, cool and ventilated area like the pantry. Ensure to keep them separate from other produce such as Apples, Berries, Potatoes, Bananas, and Pears as they can cause them to spoil quickly.
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.
