Stonefruit

Summerfruit (Apricot, Plum, Nectarine, Peach)

Sweet and juicy, luscious and colourful summer stonefruit are the hallmarks of the Australian summerfruit industry, which produces more than 100,000 tonnes of peaches, nectarines, plums and apricots between October and April.

Nectarines, peaches and plums are the main summerfruits exported from Australia. As a relatively small and high quality producer and exporter of summerfruit, Australian growers are gaining a reputation as quality niche market suppliers.

Extensive plantings of new varieties of white and yellow flesh peaches and nectarines have provided exciting new products with both taste and shelf life that enables the industry to meet consumer demands in northern markets. Juicy nectarines and peaches open the Australian summerfruit season in November – April, with delicious apricots available in November – February and sweet tasting plums in December – April .The stonefruit season finishes in April/May.

Positioned in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia is well placed to provide counter-seasonal summerfruit to complement northern producers and help keep your customers supplied with fresh fruit year round.

Growing Regions

Low Chill varieties of nectarines and peaches produced in warmer climates while High Chill varieties are harvested in southern states of Australia in the Goulburn Valley and Swan Hill regions in Victoria, Orange/Young regions in New South Wales and southern parts of Western Australia and South Australia’s Riverland region.

Western Australia’s moist south west is acclaimed for its newer plum varieties complementing the Swan Hill and Young production regions with sweet taste sensations.

Apricots are primarily grown in the areas around Swan Hill and Renmark with production expanding in the famously pristine climate in Tasmania.

Availability

Low Chill varieties of nectarines and peaches produced in warmer climates and harvested from October to December. The High Chill varieties of nectarines and peaches are available from mid November through to late April.

Apricots from the production areas around Swan Hill and Renmark are available from November- February, with production in Tasmania providing fruit through to March.

Sweet tasting plums are available for November – early May customers.

Major varieties and seasonality: Apricot

Major varieties and seasonality: Plum

Major varieties and seasonality: White Nectarine

Major varieties and seasonality: White Peach

Major varieties and seasonality: Yellow Nectarine

Major varieties and seasonality: Yellow Peach