Trick or treat? While some will be ending October on a sugar high thanks to Halloween, why not start November off with a selection of fresh and healthy Australian-grown fruit and vegetables sourced through the Brisbane Markets from your local, independent A better choice! store. This week’s Produce Report is packed with light and refreshing fruit and vegetables, perfect for those hot and humid days.
Our pick of the week is a unique one – Piel de Sapo Melon from North Queensland. Pronounced “PEE-al day SAH-po”, this tropical melon is sweet and juicy on the inside, but rough and rigid on the outside. Originally from Spain, this melon features pale green to white flesh and tastes very similar to the Honeydew Melon but with a hint of Pear. Piel de Sapo contains vitamin C and phosphorous. It also has a high-water content, a filling effect on the appetite, and acts as a thirst quencher on a hot summer day. You will know that your melon is ready to eat when the green stipes begin to fade and become a yellow colour. It should also feel heavy for its size and have a strong, yet sweet smell. Store it at room temperature, but once it is cut, transfer it to an airtight container where it should last for three to five days.
Calling all Lychee enthusiasts – Lychees from Mareeba have officially made their way to the Brisbane Markets. You may begin to see some stock at your local A better choice! store very soon. Although Lychees are perfect to eat on their own and do not need any complementary flavours, if you are looking to experiment in the kitchen this summer, keep this recipe on hand – Pork and Lychee Skewers. A simple, yet flavoursome way to impress guests at a barbecue gathering!
Sugarloaf Cabbage from the Lockyer Valley is in good supply right now, and New South Wales growing regions are also expected to start producing soon. If you are a Sugarloaf Cabbage fan, then now is your time to indulge in coleslaws and salads – the perfect accompaniment to any summer barbecue.
Another salad item, that is in good supply this week is Rocket Salad Leaves. Grown in the Lockyer Valley and Victoria, Rocket has many health benefits as it is nutrient-dense and high in fibre. Give this Rocket, Pear and Walnut Salad recipe a try on those hot and humid days when you need a light and refreshing lunch. Rocket is also a great flavour addition to a Pesto Pasta if you need a quick and easy meal to whip up after a long day at work or play. Your local, independent A better choice! store offers a broad range of fresh, seasonal produce sourced through the Brisbane Markets, so keep your eyes peeled for current seasonal treats as they start to fill the shelves in the coming weeks!
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.
