IT’S the season for brassicas – vegetables that include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collard greens and the Asian greens pak choy and bok choy.
They grow best in cooler weather, which means they’re generally only available during the winter and spring at the local farmers markets. Highly nutritious, brassicas contain high levels of vitamin C, A, E, K, as well as folate, calcium, iron, potassium and phosphorus, are and high in fibre. Here are some of the brassicas tasting great at the markets now.
Cauliflowers
Fantastic in a curry, roasted, fried, in a soup, made into cauliflower rice, a pizza base, mashed with garlic, butter and parmesan cheese, or drenched in old fashioned cheese sauce, cauliflower should be a staple in your fridge in winter. Find them at the Everest Farm stall Jumping Red Ant.
Cabbage
Full of goodness, you can cabbage raw in slaw or salads, add to soups, stir fries, or have a go at creating home made sauerkraut. There are few types – the most common at the local farmers markets are the green and red – which you can find at the Everest Farm stall ( and wombok – or Chinese cabbage, which is available from Organic Forrest.
Cime De Rapa
One of lesser known brassicas in Australia, Cime de Rapa, or brocoletti, is popular in Italy, where it is classically used in the pasta dish orecchiette con cime di rape. It can also be wilted and tossed in oil and garlic, salt and pepper and chilli eaten as a side dish. Find it at the Bangalow Farm stall.
Citrus
The cooler months are peak season for citrus on the Northern Rivers and there is plenty of variety to choose from at the markets. Native finger limes are available at Playing With Fire and Nev Singh Bananas; limes and lemons can be found at Jumping Red Ant, and citrus growers Rancho Relaxo (also known for their citrus cordials) have limes, lemons and mandarins, as well as their delicious blood oranges. Federal grower Organic Forrest also have lemons, with oranges on their way in coming weeks. More juicy organic mandarins and limes can be found at The Organic Avocado.
Pecans
Nimbin Valley Rice and Pecans have the first nuts from this year’s pecan crop now available at their stall. Picked and processed on farm, they’re fresher than pretty much any other pecan you can buy. There’s also a pecan spread (great as an alternative to butter/peanut butter) and a pecan muesli available.
Watermelon Radish
Radishes are thriving in the cooler weather. At the markets you’ll find the common white and red cherry radish, long white daikon, and at the Bangalow Farm stall, the pretty watermelon radish. White on the inside, it has a stunning pinky-red flesh on the inside that adds a pop of colour, crunch and peppery flavour to a salad. They’re also great for pickling.
Leeks
Take your winter soups stews, pies and pasta to the next level with some of the big and beautiful locally-grown leeks available at the markets now. Find them at Everest Farm and Jumping Red Ant.
Also In Season
Apples, avocados, bananas, beetroot, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, chokoes, cucumber, fennel, garlic, ginger, green beans, macadamias, papaya, peas, potato, pumpkin, radish, rosellas, silverbeet, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, zucchini
