As we kick off 2026, you can count on one thing to help keep your New Year’s resolutions on track: every week, your local, independent fruit and veg shop will be stocked with a wide selection of fresh, quality produce from thousands of Australian farms, all sourced through the Brisbane Markets.
This week’s pick of the week is Green Beans from the Lockyer Valley, Stanthorpe, and Bowen. Green Beans are packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and thiamine, which is great for heart health and digestion. A tip for picking a good eating Green Bean is to look for firm, straight Beans that are also solid in colour. To store fresh Beans, keep them unwashed in the fridge’s crisper drawer in a perforated or open plastic bag with a paper towel to absorb moisture, which will keep them good for about one week. Why not incorporate Beans into your meals this week? For something light and refreshing, try this Bean side dish – it is quick, easy, and full of flavour!
Another green and crunchy veg from Stanthorpe are Green Capsicums, which are also great value this week. Just like Beans, Capsicums are also packed with vitamins A and C, so whether you prefer them raw or cooked, they are a healthy choice to add to your plate.
Not so green, but definitely crunchy, Carrots are also one to add to the grocery list this week. With supply coming in steady from the Scenic Rim, South Australia, and Victoria, do not forget about this dinner plate staple. When storing your Carrots, ensure they are dry and place them in a plastic bag before refrigerating to ensure they remain crisp and crunchy.
Passionfruit from Bundaberg and North Queensland are of excellent value this week. To ensure you are eating the perfect Passionfruit, select one that is heavy, smooth, and deep purple in colour. To store Passionfruit, place them in an airtight plastic bag in the fridge. For something different, you can scoop out the pulp and freeze it in an ice cube tray, then add the frozen pulp to a cocktail.
Get in quick, as the Lychee season is coming to an end over the next few weeks. For those who have enjoyed Lychees this summer, and those who are heading to the shops now to grab some, know that your Lychees this week are coming from the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland. To select ripe Lychees, look for those with a red-pinkish skin and keep them in the fridge for around five to seven days.
Shop at your local, independent fruit and vegetable store displaying the A better choice! logo for a large range of seasonal, fresh, and quality produce sourced through the Brisbane Markets, knowing you are supporting local families, businesses, communities, and Australian 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.
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.
