And just like that, the first month of 2026 is done, so with routines now firmly back in place, with school and work resuming after summer holidays, be sure to keep shopping at your local, independent fruit and vegetable store displaying the A better choice! logo for all your fresh, in-season produce that is sourced through the Brisbane Markets!
Our pick of the week is Menindee Grapes, a summer favourite known for its crisp bite, delicate sweetness, and refreshing juiciness. Supply is excellent, with produce coming from the Granite Belt and growing regions in Victoria. Menindee Grapes should be pale green to light golden in colour, with a slight blush when ripe. Choose bunches with green, flexible stems and test the firmness; the Grapes should feel plump, firm, and well-attached to the stem. For maximum freshness, store unwashed Grapes in the crisper drawer of your fridge in a breathable bag or container and wash only before eating. For maximum crispness, keep grapes as cold as possible, ideally in a single layer.
Just in time for Lunar New Year, Lychees are in excellent supply from North Queensland this week. Expect sweet, aromatic flesh and vibrant red skins on these seasonal favourites, and expect some good value this week, with prices falling as they get close to the end of the season.
Kensington Pride Mango season is still going strong, with North Queensland delivering fragrant, sweet fruit. Supply is excellent, so grab them while the season lasts. Also in great supply are Plums, with top-quality fruit arriving from across South East Queensland and Victoria.
Thriving this week are Red Capsicums from Bowen, Bundaberg and South Australia. Known for their mild, sweet flavour, Capsicums are a popular ingredient in many cuisines worldwide and are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and E, folate, and fibre. If you are looking for a true crowd-pleaser, try this Capsicum Pesto which is moreish and sweet, perfect for charcuterie platters and picnic spreads!
Whether you are after Truss, Cherry, Gourmet, or Roma, Tomato lovers are spoiled for choice this week as the supply of all varieties is abundant. With produce coming from Bowen, Bundaberg, NSW, Victoria and South Australia, Tomatoes are looking and tasting fantastic — perfect for summer salads, sauces, or snacking.
Gold Sweet Potatoes from Bundaberg continue to shine with their rich colour and creamy texture. With excellent supply right now, Gold Sweet Potatoes are fantastic for roasting, mashing, or slicing into chips. They are also a great source of vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and fibre. Try this Sweet Potato Spring Onion and Feta Salad and for something a bit different.
Look no further than your local, independent fruit and vegetable store displaying the A better choice! logo for a variety of fresh, seasonal, and quality produce sourced through 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.
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.
