Exotic vegetables are the future

Ok, so many of us would actually be asking what a Gay Choy actually was, let alone planning to buy some and then include them in our everyday cooking.

However, this is just one of the Australian grown but exotic vegetables that are now increasingly making their way onto the plates of those cooking at home.

AuVeg recently released the results of a survey of 1000 people, who had been asked about what vegetables they are eating.

It seems that whilst traditional favourites like potatoes and carrots are not going anywhere, we are looking for new tastes and experiences when it comes to vegetables.

Felicity Powell, AusVeg spokesperson said; This demand could evoke a ‘hipster revolution’ for emerging and underground vegetable varieties. Gay Choy, Taro and Winter Melon are among the lesser-known vegetable varieties of Australian-grown produce. They’re pretty underground, you’ve probably never heard of them, but if you want to spice up the kitchen or add a flavour of the exotic, these are right your alley.”

Whilst Asian vegetables are the type that is increasingly most rapidly, Sweet potato and baby spinach are now fixed items in many homes.

AusVeg believes that this increasing desire for new vegetables is directly related to the popularity of international cuisines like Thai and Vietnamese foods.

Ms Powell said; “This report has shown that emerging vegetable varieties, such as the Tesoro tomato, which is a unique variety of tomato packed full of flavour and yet low in liquid, have huge market potential in Australia.”

This tomato variety is not currently available in Australia, but is on it’s way from the USA, along with other new vegetable varieties for our growers to produce.

Written by Rachelle Williams – the Green Food Safety Coach