Schools out! With some rain about, it is a perfect time to get the kids in the kitchen cooking up some healthy holiday meals, using fresh produce from your local fruit and veg store sourced through the Brisbane Markets. Head to the A better choice! website for some recipe inspiration. With Easter just around the corner, now is a good time to get in as many healthy and nutritious meals before the chocolate-filled holiday is upon us.
Our pick of the week is Granny Smith Apples. Although available all year round, these crisp, juicy, and slightly tart Green Apples are in peak season now and the quality is outstanding. Grown locally in Stanthorpe and throughout Victoria and New South Wales, Apple supply is strong at present and perfect for boosting immunity as the cooler weather settles in. You know what they say, “an Apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Keep this in mind over the next few months and grab a bag this weekend.
Do not forget the Red Apple varieties, which are also top quality and in great supply this week, and grown in Stanthorpe, Victoria and New South Wales. There are many Red Apple varieties, all with their own unique flavour to choose from. We can agree that nothing beats a bite into a crisp juicy Apple. If you are looking for some Apple cooking inspiration, try one of these recipes: Apple, Pear and Rhubarb Crumble, Apple Strudel, Apple Oat Balls, or even an Asian-Style Chicken and Apple Salad. As you can see, Apples are a versatile ingredient providing a taste of freshness and sweetness.
The Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland are supplying the Brisbane Markets with plenty of Pineapples this week, and the quality is excellent. Perfect to add a sweetness to your meal, Pineapples are packed with vitamins and nutrients. If Pineapple on pizza is not for you, what about Pineapple on a Pork Taco? Give it a try!
Another seasonal star that offers great value this week is Pomegranates. Their pulp and juice are used to make jellies, salad dressings and syrups. When selecting a Pomegranate, remember the heavier it is, the juicier it is! Look for a glossy fruit with deep coloured rind for the most flavour. This week’s Pomegranate supply is coming from Victoria and New South Wales.
Locally sourced from the Lockyer Valley and Bundaberg, together with South Australia, Continental Cucumbers– are in abundance this week and are great value. The salad must-have, Cucumbers are refreshing and crisp making them the perfect salad topper or sandwich filler. High in nutrients, and vitamins A and C, a tasty way to stay healthy!
The Lockyer Valley continues to provide us withplenty of Sweet Corn. A dinner plate favourite for many, the sweet, juicy kernels pop with flavour every time you bite into the cob. Looking for a way to spice up your Corn on the cob? Give this Roasted Corn with Smoked Chilli Mayo a try.
If you are looking for an exotic vegetable to use this week, then look no further than some Choy Sum from Victoria. This leafy Asian green veg is in great supply and is a flavoursome choice for many dishes. When picking your Choy Sum, look for fresh, crisp stalks with bright green leaves. It is nutrient-rich and super versatile. Pick up a bunch of Choy Sum this week and see what wonders you, or the kids, can do in the kitchen.
Even through there is rain about this week, your local A better choice! fruit and veg store continues to stock a large range of quality, fresh produce. They source their fruit and vegetables through the Brisbane Markets where wholesalers are supplied by thousands of Australian growers. So, look for the A better choice! logo when you next buy your produce, and pick up some quality, fresh and locally grown fruit and vegetables while supporting local businesses and growers.
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.
