Early autumn has arrived at Melbourne Market with new-season persimmons, Shepard avocados and fresh Victorian jujubes leading the seasonal shift, as late-summer favourites make their final appearance.
Traders at Victoria’s wholesale fruit, vegetable and cut flower trading centre are reporting strong quality across grapes, plums and melons, with sauce tomatoes, sweet potatoes and tropical lines all signalling the change in season.
New-season fruit is beginning to build momentum. Persimmons from Queensland are now arriving, marking the start of the season before local Victorian fruit takes over in the months ahead.
Chris Louey from M&N Fresh Produce says supply will transition south as the season progresses. “It’s the start of the persimmon season, with supply coming from Queensland. Later in the season, it will shift to Victorian-grown fruit from Shepparton, Cobram and the Yarra Valley,” he says.
Shepard avocados from Far North Queensland have also started, while Hass avocados are currently limited.
Jack Wilson from All Aussie Farmers says the new-season Shepards are eating well.
“It’s that time of year again, Shepard avocado season is here. We’re getting ours from Far North Queensland, and they are eating really well. Shepards are great because they don’t go brown. Wait until a Shepard is a bit softer to the touch than a Hass before eating, especially if you want to smash it.”
Mangoes, however, are nearing the end of their run. “Mangoes are getting late into their season, eat them while you can. We’re currently getting Keitts out of Childers in Queensland,” Wilson says.
Traders are also expecting a very limited supply of Victorian-grown Kensington Pride mangoes from Mildura.
“They have a more intense mango aroma, making them popular with our greengrocer buyers. Most mangoes come from the northern parts of Australia, so this is a rare taste of the tropics grown right here in Victoria,” Louey says.
Peaches, nectarines and cherries are also finishing up, making now the time to enjoy them before the season closes, with clingstone peaches still eating well in their final weeks.
Sauce tomatoes are here now, providing their short window for passata and preserving. Plums and grapes are in strong supply and eating beautifully, while watermelon, rockmelon and papaya continue to deliver sweet flavour. Sweet potatoes from Bundaberg are also performing particularly well as the weather begins to cool.
Tropical fruit remains vibrant, with achacha and mangosteen from the Daintree region of Queensland adding colour and variety, while ginger is plentiful and dates are in strong demand due to Ramadan.
This year, Melbourne Market has opened its doors to the public for the first time, with Super Saturdays giving consumers rare access to this behind-the-scenes operation and the chance to buy fresh produce direct from traders at wholesale prices. Running every Saturday from 8.30am to 1.30pm, Super Saturdays has peak fruit and vegetables on offer at great prices each week.
With new-season produce arriving, summer favourites winding down and strong volumes across fruit and vegetables, March is a month of transition and abundance at Melbourne Market. For the freshest picks, expert advice and the widest range, visit your local greengrocer.
SEASONAL SNAPSHOT
FIRST OF: Button squash, kiwifruit (including yellow and red blush varieties), persimmon (QLD), fresh Victorian jujube, custard apples, Shepard avocados (FNQ)
LAST OF: Peaches, nectarines, cherries, mangoes, Keitt mangoes (Childers QLD)
LOTS OF: Sauce tomatoes (early month), plums, grapes, ginger, dates, achacha, mangosteen (Daintree QLD)
EATING WELL: Watermelon, rockmelon, papaya, clingstone peaches, plums, grapes, Shepard avocados, sweet potato (Bundaberg)
NOT MUCH OF: Hass avocados
To find a local greengrocer, visit abetterchoice.com.au
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