Brisbane Produce Report – 21 July
July 20, 2023 adonaldson
We are in the heart of winter and it’s a great time to think about some creative ways to keep the kids’ lunchboxes full of fruit and vegetables to keep their minds and bodies healthy this school term! The good news is your local fruit and veg shop is full of great quality seasonal fruit and vegetables, sourced from the Brisbane Markets, and perfect for feeding the family on a budget.
Our pick of the week is Passionfruit from Gympie, which you will find in good supply at your local independent fruit and veg shop. It’s a great source of dietary fibre and has an aromatic and sweet flavour that is hard to resist. Passionfruit pulp is used in some of our favourite sweet dishes, like this Passionfruit Mousse!
Winter is a great time of year for citrus fruits as the cold weather makes them sweeter. While there are plenty of Oranges and Lemons coming from the southern states, Honey Murcott Mandarins from the Gayndah and Burnett regions of Queensland are great at the moment, and at good prices. Honey Murcotts are the sweetest of the Mandarin varieties and a delicious addition to packed lunches.
You’ll find North Queensland Papaya in your local fruit and veg shop this week. With favourable growing conditions, they are good quality and well-priced. Combine Papaya with our pick of the week to make these Breakfast Crepes with Papaya and Passionfruit Glaze.
The winter Sunshine Coast Strawberry harvest continues to deliver more and more of these wonderful berries to the shelves. Get creative with your home cooking and try this decadent Balsamic Strawberry Tarte Tatin with Crème Fraiche.
Green and Gold varieties of Kiwifruit from New Zealand are also great eating this week. Kiwifruit offers plenty of antioxidants and fibre to aid digestion and boost the immune system. Pop them in the kids’ lunchbox with a spoon for a healthy, tasty snack.
After a brief drop off, we’re seeing Gourmet Tomato numbers increase, with great quality fruit coming from Bundaberg and Bowen. On a cool winter night, there’s nothing better than hot soup, and with Capsicum also in great supply from Bundaberg, try this Chunky Tomato and Capsicum Soup as a healthy, low cost, winter warmer.
Hailing from Victoria, leafy green salads like Baby Spinach and Rocket are lush, green and affordable. If salads seem a little too cold for winter meals, you can make this Penne Pasta with Mushrooms, Rocket and Chilli.
Another leafy green growing well at the moment is Silverbeet from Gatton. Though a leafy green, Silverbeet can be quite colourful, with a stem that can be white, yellow or red. They are incredibly high in vitamin A and C, so try your hand at this Quinoa, Silverbeet and Feta Bread for an easy, healthy bake.
It really is the season for green vegetables, as Snow Peas from Bundaberg are also in great supply. Perfectly sweet and crunchy, Snow Peas are a wonderful addition to a simple salad, or they can be steamed gently as an accompaniment to most meals.
Gold Sweet Potato from Bowen is a delicious winter root vegetable option that can be roasted, fried or made into a super creamy mash. Try some today and be sure to pick up other root veggies like Potato, Parsnip and Carrots this week.
Your local A better choice! fruit and veg shop hand picks their produce from the Brisbane Markets at Rocklea, which comes from thousands of Australian farms. Why not call in and see your local fruit and veg shop for the best quality, choice, freshness, and service available!
Brisbane Produce Markets