With State of Origin Game One now complete and two exciting clashes still to come, the rivalry between Queensland and New South Wales remains firmly in the spotlight. While the Maroons and Blues continue their battle on the field, Queensland’s growing regions are showcasing their own winning form, supplying the Brisbane Markets with an abundance of fresh, quality produce this winter. Whether you are preparing a feast for the next Origin showdown or enjoying hearty family meals at home, back your local independent fruit and vegetable store displaying the A better choice! logo for the freshest seasonal produce.
This week’s pick of the week is Ginger from the Sunshine Coast, which is currently of excellent quality. Prized for its distinctive flavour and aroma, Ginger adds warmth and depth to both sweet and savoury dishes, from curries and stir-fries such as Sesame Ginger Mushroom Noodles to baked goods and winter beverages. Long valued for its digestive benefits, Ginger is also commonly used to help ease nausea and support overall wellbeing. As temperatures cool, try adding freshly grated Ginger to soups, teas, or slow-cooked meals for an extra burst of flavour and comfort.
Green Beans are in abundant supply and offering excellent value this week. Known for their crisp texture and fresh flavour, they are incredibly versatile and can be steamed, stir-fried, roasted, or added to salads and casseroles. A good source of fibre, folate, and vitamins A, C and K, Green Beans make a nutritious addition to family meals. For a simple side dish, lightly steam and toss with olive oil, garlic and toasted almonds.
Turn up the heat with Red Chillies from North Queensland, which are currently in excellent supply and offering great value. Perfect for curries, stir-fries, marinades and soups, Red Chillies bring both flavour and warmth to winter dishes. Containing capsaicin, the natural compound responsible for their heat, chillies may help promote circulation and create a warming sensation on cooler days. Add them to a nourishing soup, slow-cooked curry, or homemade broth with ginger, garlic and lemon.
Sweet, easy to peel and packed with flavour, Afourer Mandarins from Mundubbera are eating exceptionally well this week. Their juicy flesh and vibrant colour make them a popular choice for lunchboxes, snacks and fruit platters. Rich in vitamin C, Afourer Mandarins are a delicious way to enjoy seasonal citrus throughout winter and offer the perfect balance of sweetness and tang.
Also offering excellent value this week is Grapefruit from South East Queensland. Packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, Grapefruit is known for its refreshing sweet-tart flavour and juicy flesh. When selecting Grapefruit, choose fruit that feels heavy for its size with smooth, firm skin, as this is a good indication of juiciness. Enjoy it freshly sliced for breakfast, tossed through salads, or lightly grilled with a drizzle of honey for a simple winter treat.
Remember to continue shopping at your local, independent fruit and vegetable store displaying the A better choice! logo where there is a variety of quality, fresh produce sourced through the Brisbane Markets, Queensland’s Heart of Fresh Produce.
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.
