It is the start of the Ekka in Brisbane, and there is no better time to learn just how important local Queensland farming communities and Brisbane Markets wholesalers are and the role they play in providing fresh, quality produce to customers all over the country. One way you can show your support for Queensland growers and family businesses is to shop at your local, independent fruit and vegetable store that displays the A better choice! logo, knowing the produce has been sourced through the Brisbane Markets.
This week, our pick of the week is Strawberries from the Sunshine Coast and Caboolture. With excellent supply and quality, you can enjoy an Ekka favourite at home by making your own iconic Ekka Strawberry sundae! The secret to getting good Strawberries is to look for a deep, uniform red colour with no green or white tops, and they should have a sweet fragrance. Fresh green leaves mean the berry was recently picked. Do not wash your strawberries until you are ready to eat them to ensure they stay in prime condition and let cold berries sit on the counter for 30 minutes for the best eating as it brings out their natural sugars.
With its sweet, orange flesh and captivating aroma, Rockmelon from Bowen will be a delightful addition to your fruit selection this week. Its refreshing taste makes it perfect for a quick and healthy snack, or you can turn it into a vibrant fruit salad by blending it with other fresh produce for a burst of natural sweetness. Enjoy this Watermelon, Rockmelon & Goats Cheese Salad with any barbecued meats or seafood.
Brunch lovers will be pleased to hear that Hass Avocados from North Queensland are in great supply right now and the quality is outstanding. Delicious and creamy, Avocado provides a host of vitamins and healthy fats to your diet. Blend it into your smoothies, enjoy it on toast, or flip things around and try these Baked Eggs in Avocado!
With its mild, sweet, and buttery flavour, Green Oak Lettuce from Lowood is in abundance this week, and the quality is outstanding. Excellent in mixed green salads, burgers, sandwiches, and tacos, Green Oak Lettuce should be stored unwashed in the crisper section of the refrigerator, and if storing whole, wrap the root base in a damp paper towel and place it loosely inside a breathable plastic bag where it will keep for up to two weeks.
Finally, Broccoli from the Lockyer Valley and Gatton is also in great supply this week. This tasty vegetable, rich in nutrients and vitamins, is one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat. Its crunchy and nourishing texture is favoured by many, while it is easy to cook and a versatile addition to any lunch or dinner meal.
If you are going to the Ekka, be sure to learn more about Queensland growers and the important role they play in the fresh produce supply chain. Then visit your local independent fruit and vegetable store that displays the A better choice! where you will find a range of quality, fresh and locally grown products 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.
