Brisbane Produce Report 351

Brisbane Produce Report – 3 March

  March 2, 2023  adonaldson

It is an exciting time at your local fruit and veg shop this week, as we are experiencing perfect growing weather right now, meaning consumers can enjoy an abundance and large variety of good quality fruit and vegetables. Even more uncommon and elusive fruits are on offer, as well as some excellent quality classic staples.

The pick of the week is Sweet Potato. This versatile vegetable is in abundance due to the ideal growing conditions we are experiencing from North Queensland right down the South-East coast and local Brisbane regions. There are so many sweet and savoury recipes which include Sweet Potatoes to choose from but as the weather gets cooler, try a comforting and hearty Sweet Potato and Kale Frittata.

Have you ever tried Spaghetti Squash from Stanthorpe? Now’s your chance! This unique squash has long fibres that make it ideal for shredding into strips after roasting. A perfect low carb dinner option – pick up a Spaghetti Squash at your local fruit and veg shop and try it out this week.

Eating beautifully from Bundaberg and in great supply this week is Zucchini. Zucchinis are low in calories and high in fibre, making them a terrific addition to a healthy diet. Zucchinis are very adaptable and can be used in a variety of dishes, such as soups, stews, salads, and even baked goods like Zucchini muffins. Enjoy the low-calorie benefits of this Beef Zucchini Noodles recipe.

Eggplant is excellent quality this week from Stanthorpe, perfect for a cool-weather meal. Eggplant can be cooked up into curries, dips or simply roasted to accompany meat or added to salads. Sometimes the cooler weather calls for comfort food, and what’s more comforting than Pizza! Our Eggplant Parmigiana Pizza is a delicious and easy recipe that the whole family will love.

Cauliflower from Gatton is a delicious veg to help bulk up your meals. Don’t be scared to use up every bit of the Cauliflower from root to leaf to reduce the amount of wastage in the cooking process. This Moroccan Cauliflower Tray Roast uses up the whole head of Cauliflower and is delicious to boot! Make this as a showstopping centrepiece for your next dinner party, or serve it up as a side to barbecued meats.

Have you ever tried Achacha? This tropical fruit, originally from the Bolivian part of the Amazon Basin in South American, is now grown in North Queensland. It has a unique in flavour and might be harder to come by, but it is well worth asking for! Achacha has an orange-yellow outer skin, and once opened has a soft juicy texture with a seed in the middle. The flavour is a unique balance of sweet and acidic and is a delicious treat well worth a try! The Achacha is closely related to Mangosteen, another highly sought after tropical fruit.

Rockhampton and Stanthorpe Strawberries are in the market this week and making their way into store. Strawberries are a popular favourite and great for fruit salads, smoothies or enjoy on their own. For something different and delicious, how about baking a batch of Strawberry Cookies?

Delicious Figs are still available from Bundaberg and North Queensland. Figs are a sought-after summer fruit filled with vitamins and minerals. Often used in sweet and salty combinations like prosciutto wrapped figs or goat’s cheese and fig canapes or test out this Green Bean, Fig and Feta Salad.

New season White and Red Grapes are in excellent supply with a wide variety of options available from Victoria’s cooler regions. Pick up a bunch of your favourite grapes this week and treat the whole family to the perfect flavour and texture of fresh grapes! The skin and seed contain a rich concentration of antioxidants and are a popular and healthy snack.

New season Apples are starting to appear in the market from Stanthorpe. Look for new season Gala, Red Delicious and then Granny Smith in the next few weeks for the perfect crunch and sweetness. While there’s nothing better than crunching into a crisp Apple, you could also use them up in a delicious Sweet Potato and Apple Salad.

Nothing quite adds flavour (and heat!) to your meals like Chilli. Thriving in the current hot weather, we have an abundance of Chilli adding spice and heat to perfectly complement most savoury meals of any cuisine. Go back to basics this week with our Garlic Spaghetti Aglio E Olio for a simple meal that packs a punch!

Brisbane Produce Markets