Fresh is best and there's nothing fresher than fruit and veg straight from the farm.
Unless you live in a rural community it's sometimes difficult to source food straight from the grower so roadside stalls are a great way to pick up local bargains and taste the region on your travels.
Top tips:
- Remember to still use your smarts when buying from roadside stalls and pick the best and freshest produce.
- Always stop safely and open car doors with care.
- Don’t forget to pack a cooler stuffed with cold packs and bags for your purchases in case there aren’t any supplied.
- If there’s an honour system for payment please be honest.
If you know some great roadside places to stop - please share food love and leave a comment below.
Here's my top stops -
Chillingham Bush Tucker on Numinbah Road, Chillingham is one
of my favourite stops. As well as a good selection of local organic fruit and
veg, the shop sells other bush tucker products, asian and unusual exotic fruits
and also good, local coffee. The drive there is also exceptionally scenic and
great for motor bikes.
Sinbad Street, Shorncliffe is a street full of creek side
fish vendors selling their catch straight from the boat. There's no shortage of
seafood on the bay but it's special when you can buy it direct from the trawler
and talk to the fisherman who caught it.
There's nothing like buying direct from the grower and you
don't have to go far in Brisbane to find the best strawberries. There are more
strawberry farms on the Bruce Highway north of Burpengary.
Wises Farm at Buderim, just off Wises Road has large punnets
of figs grown on the property. They taste so much better than figs I've bought
at the Greengrocer. It's worth the stop!
Pick your own fresh, crispy apples or tuck into a delicious
homemade apple pie at Suttons Farm in Stanthorpe. The Pick Your Own Apples
season varies each year depending on the weather but generally runs from late
January to mid June. Suttons also produce varietal apple juices, fruit
liqueurs, apple ciders, brandies and grappa – all available for taste-testing.
Tamborine
Tamborine Oxenford Road which takes you up to Tamborine
Mountain often has road side stalls full of local produce.
On the top of the mountain look out for roadside stalls
selling avocados and other locally grown fruits.
Sunshine Coast
Hinterland
The ridge road between Montville and Maleny and either side,
Maleny-Montville Road, is another scenic blockbuster with frequent roadside
stalls. Look out for avocados and often honey.