Avocado Season
Avocados in season in Australia. Month-by-month availability by state, peak supply windows, growing regions and varieties.
Are Avocados in Season in May?
Avocados are available year-round in Australia, but the Hass avocados most of us love are in peak supply between June and December. Between January and May you can usually get your fix from fringe-season Hass or other varieties like Shepard and Reed.
When is Avocado Season in Australia?
Avocados are in season across autumn and winter in Australia, with peak supply from March to September.
Avocados grow well in subtropical climates with well-draining soil. From flowering to harvest, a fruit can take 9 to 18 months to develop. Commercial growers almost always use grafted trees for consistent quality and faster production, with most orchards not reaching significant output until year three or four.
Avocado Availability by Season
Avocado Varieties
Hass dominates at around 80% of production and runs almost year-round. Shepard fills the late-summer window from February to April when Hass volumes dip, and keeps its green skin even when ripe so you need to judge it by the squeeze. Reed is a small-volume variety that bridges the gap between the two and is more likely to turn up at farmers markets than on a supermarket shelf.
Avocado Varieties Through the Year
Hass Avocado Season
Hass avocado season runs April to February, with peak supply and the best deals usually between August and November. Representing about 80% of Australian avocado production, Hass thrives in North Queensland's tropical regions and WA's Mediterranean climate. Availability drops through summer and autumn, when Shepards take over.
Shepard Avocado Season
Shepard avocado season typically runs February through April, filling the gap as Hass availability declines. Growing mainly in North and Central Queensland, Shepards keep their bright green skin when ripe, so judge ripeness by the squeeze, not the colour. They have firmer flesh with a nuttier flavour than Hass.
Reed Avocado Season
Reed avocado season runs January to April, bridging the gap between the end of Shepard and the build-up of Hass. They make up only a small share of commercial production and are more likely to appear at farmers markets than in supermarkets. Distinctively round with a notably buttery texture, they're worth tracking down in late summer and early autumn.
Where do Avocados Come From in Australia?
Avocados originated in Mexico, first cultivated by Mesoamerican civilisations. The three main horticultural types (Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indian) are each adapted to different elevations and climates. In Australia, Queensland leads production at around 50% of the annual crop, WA contributes roughly 40% and NSW around 10%. North Queensland specialises in Shepards. Early- and mid-season Hass mainly come from Queensland, with most late-season Hass from WA.
Avocado Production in Australia
The Australian avocado industry had a difficult run through the early 2020s. Tree plantings grew by almost 65% between 2017 and 2022, driving seasons of oversupply and the price swings shoppers noticed. Then floods in Queensland and Northern NSW in 2022 damaged significant portions of annual production, compounding the instability.