Autumn Produce

Autumn is peak apple season in Australia. Royal Gala arrives first, followed by Granny Smith and Pink Lady through March and April from the Goulburn Valley, Batlow and the Huon Valley, with Victoria growing about 46% of the national crop and Sundowner running latest into May.

Hass supply builds through autumn as Queensland's crop comes online, and Shepard avocados peak in March and April. Queensland and Western Australia together produce the bulk of Australia's crop.

Bananas are available year-round, with around 95% of the crop from North Queensland, and steady supply through autumn as the wet season winds down.

Autumn is the quieter end of the broccoli year, with southern regions between cuts and Queensland's Lockyer Valley gearing up for its June peak, so supply stays steady but prices typically rise compared with winter and spring.

Brussels sprout season peaks in autumn and winter, with Victoria the main growing state. Cold temperatures convert their starches to sugars and improve flavour.

Cabbage thrives in cooler autumn temperatures, with savoy, red and green varieties all at good supply.

Capsicums are at good supply in autumn, with red and yellow varieties ripening fully on the vine. Queensland dominates production.

Carrots are available year-round, with autumn crops from cooler regions tending to be sweeter. They're grown across most Australian states.

Eggplant season peaks through autumn, with firm, glossy specimens from Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Table grape season extends well into autumn. Crimson Seedless peaks in March, with Thompson Seedless and Red Globe carrying supply toward winter, almost all from Victoria's Sunraysia region around Mildura.

Australian kiwifruit season kicks off from March, with Victoria producing around two-thirds of the local crop and the remainder from New South Wales and Western Australia, though most supply is still imported from New Zealand.

Onions are available year-round, with the autumn harvest bringing fresh brown, red and white varieties from South Australia and Tasmania.

Parsnip season runs from autumn through winter, with cold temperatures sweetening the roots.

Passionfruit peaks in autumn, especially March and April, grown mainly in subtropical Queensland and New South Wales. Look for heavy fruits with wrinkled skin.

Pear season spans all of autumn. Williams and Beurre Bosc lead in March and April, Corella follows through May, then Packham carries on into early winter, all mostly from Victoria's Goulburn Valley, which produces around 70% of Australia's pears.

Persimmon season runs March to May, one of the most autumn-specific crops on the calendar, with the sweet Fuyu variety most common and production spread across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

Potatoes are a year-round staple, with fresh-dug new-season varieties in autumn from South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.

Pumpkin peaks in autumn, with butternut, Queensland Blue and Kent varieties from Queensland and New South Wales farms.

Sweet potato supply is strong through autumn, with Queensland producing the majority of Australia's crop and gold and purple varieties both at their best.

Pomegranate season in Australia runs through autumn and winter, peaking in autumn as harvest comes off South Australian and Victorian trees. Early-summer fruit on shelves is usually imported from California. See Pomegranate Season for the full breakdown.