Welcome to the first Local Harvest newsletter in quite some time!

Just to clarify, I have not been resting on my laurels, I have been busy giving the Local Harvest website a major face lift and am pleased have finally made it live. I hope you like the new look and find it easier to navigate with a few new features. Now that I have that major hurdle out of the way, I hope to bring your attention even more so to the wonderful food and produce that we have on the Sunshine Coast and encourage all of you to be adventurous and frequent those markets sourcing out your own favourites as well as seeking out some of mine.

Some of the new features are listed below, as well as a new Events Calendar, just so you don’t miss any of the more major events that showcase Sunshine Coast Food. Of course if there is anything that you would like to share, feel free to shoot me an email and fill me in on your own wonderful foodie finds.

In the meantime, have a good look around the new Local Harvest website, you will find dozens of new listings, recipes, some feature stories on local produce and producers all of which we will be adding to as the seasons go on. And don’t forget to tell your friends! Enjoy!

Yours in food
Petra

Produce Focus - Zucchini Flowers

There are those among us that would insist that flowers belong in vases at the dinner table rather than in the meal itself and while flowers do add a certain interest to a table arrangement, the interest for me is in the dish. Zucchini flowers are especially interesting in that while they are often simply used as a garnish, shredded or whole, they often comprise the dish itself.

>>> Click here to read more

Produce Focus - Dragonfruit...

I am sure you have all spotted a Pitaya, or Dragonfruit as they are more commonly known, and perhaps curiosity has had the better of you and you may even have tried one. They are a strange looking hot pink waxy skinned fruit, with a vivid claret or white flesh sprinkled throughout with what looks a little like black sesame seeds.

>>> Click here to read more

Product Focus...

Let us show you some regional food products that will make your mouth water. Some are new products, others just so yummy we don’t want you to overlook them them.

This month: Duck Rillettes, Avocado Oil, Pimentos de Padron, Strawberry Jam...

>>> Click here to read more

Market finds...

There seems to be a little bit of confusion about the Nambour Farmers’ Market. While it began its life at the Big Pineapple – it now finds its home at the Nambour State Primary School Grounds on Currie Street in Nambour.

>>> Click here to read more

This month's recipe...

Black Rice in Bamboo with Dragon Fruit

by Peter Wolfe

>>> Click here to view recipe