Brisbane Market Report 183

Warmer days, cooler nights and the arrival of mangoes at the Brisbane Produce Market are all sure signs that summer is on its way.

Best buys in fruit include avocados, apples, yellow and red pawpaw, and many varieties of pear: Packham, Josephine, Beurre Bosc, and Corella from Victoria. Peaches are making their first appearance: Donut variety grown in Gatton and Yellow variety from Childers, these are at the very start of their season and are already well priced.

Berries, stone fruit, melons, pineapples are all bringing colour, value, and flavour to the Brisbane Produce Market this week.  Blueberries are in abundant supply from Queensland and Toowoomba-grown raspberries and Victorian strawberries are both in stock.

In vegetables, look out for Laidley grown cauliflower, Bowen grown corn, beautiful fennel from Bonah and locally grown ginger from Yadina – they are all plentiful and in excellent quality. The market is well supplied with salad lines including spinach, kale, rocket, iceberg lettuce, shallots, spring onions and snow peas and sugar snaps.

An abundance of spring asparagus, carrots, mushrooms, capsicum, zucchini and both continental and Lebanese cucumbers are available. However, there is a light supply of broccoli, brussel sprouts, eggplant, leeks and silverbeet.

If you’re hunting for a bargain, beetroot and corn are fantastic value at the moment, along with potatoes, pumpkins, and onions. Roast them all up with whole garlic cloves, toss with rocket and feta, and you’ve got a nutrient-packed roasted vegetable salad.

This week’s top pick is a famous fruit known for its prickly green skin and distinctive smell – Jackfruit. It is the largest tree grown fruit in the world. The fruit is naturally sweet in flavour and natural high in vitamin C, B and B-6.  Jackfruit is extremely versatile and great for cooking! You can tell if the fruit is ripe by gently tapping it with your knuckle, if its ready to eat you will hear a dull hollow sound much like watermelon. For all vegan lovers try shredded jackfruit as an alternative to pulled pork or chicken with bbq seasoning and cabbage slaw in a burger.

You can buy the best of what the season has to offer at your nearest ‘Your Local Fruit Shop’. Locate your closest store at www.abetterchoice.com.au/store-locator/ Check out the Your Local Fruit Shop Facebook page for the latest news from your local fresh produce experts at https://www.facebook.com/yourlocalfruitshop.

Posted by Brisbane Produce Market