Queensland capsicums in store and deliciously affordable

A bunch of red, green, yellow and purple capsicums.
  • Queensland grows about 80% of Australia’s capsicums, which are harvested in the Wide Bay Burnett region by growers between May and August
  • Capsicums have more than twice as much vitamin C than an orange
  • While commonly red, green or yellow in colour, capsicums can also be orange, purple, white and brown

Crispy and colourful capsicums are now in-season, bringing a health boost and hip pocket help to Queenslanders.

Queensland grows about 80% of Australia’s capsicums. The Wide Bay Burnett region is major contributor to this volume and harvests between May and August each year.

Dr Robyn Littlewood, Chief Executive Officer of Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the state’s prevention agency, said capsicums were bursting with vitamin C, making them the perfect snack or addition to a meal.

‘Eating a serve of red capsicum can give you more than more than 300 per cent of your daily intake of vitamin C,’ Dr Littlewood said.

Alex Thompson, Pick of the Crop regional co-ordinator for Bundaberg, Fraser Coast and North Burnett, said buying capsicums in-season not only supported local growers but could save shoppers money as that was when vegetables were at their most affordable.

‘Capsicums are a great vegetable for kids because they come in a range of vibrant colours and can be eaten raw for a snack or cooked into tasty recipes,’ Ms Thompson said.

‘Vegetables are not only cheaper when they’re in-season because of an increase in supply, but they’re also fresher and tastier because they’re harvested at their best.’

Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers (BFVG) supports Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s whole-school healthy eating initiative Pick of the Crop, which aims to increase opportunities for Queensland primary school children to learn about and eat more vegetables and fruit.

BFVG chief executive officer Bree Watson said ‘the Bundaberg bowl’ was one of the largest produce regions in Queensland and it important to help children understand where their food was grown.

‘Every vegetable we can get kids to eat not only supports our region, but it supports the future health and wellbeing of the next generation of Queenslanders,’ Ms Watson said.

Recipes

Media contact:

media@hw.qld.gov.au

0439 599 210