2 MAY 2025

Mandarins, local persimmons, Australian kiwi fruit and zucchini are the best of May’s late autumn produce, according to traders at Melbourne Market, Victoria’s wholesale fruit, vegetable and cut flower trading centre. 

Victorian navel oranges are beginning their season and will be coming into their prime mid-month, while pomegranates from WA through SA and VIC up to NSW are now being stocked on greengrocers’ shelves. 

Imperial and Afourer mandarins from Queensland are in abundance - and when fruit from NSW starts to arrive across the month, the quality is “just going to get better,” according to 3rd generation wholesaler Matt Kelsall from Venuto Fresh.

“When the growing conditions are favourable, there is simply nothing better than a peak-season Imperial mandarin,” he says.

Local persimmons are an autumn favourite and are still eating well, with supply mainly coming from Victoria and South Australia but Frankie Piccolo from Melbourne Market wholesalers D&J Piccolo says “enjoy them now because they will be coming to an end soon”.

According to Melbourne Market wholesaler Louie Pettinella from Fresh Berry Co strawberries are currently in a between-season lull, with Victorian fruit finishing up and the Queensland season yet to begin.

“We expect things to pick up again in 2-3 weeks,” he says.

John Lopiccolo from A better choice!  Retailer West Street Fruits says new season Pink Lady apples are his top pick, while clementines and tangelos will soon hit stores to join mandarins in abundance. 

“For vegetables, there’s lots of great zucchini around so now is a good time to buy. Grate them, steam them, bake them - there’s so many ways to enjoy them!”

FIRST OF: Imperial and Afourer mandarins, Victorian navel oranges, Australian kiwifruit 

LOTS OF:  Pomegranates, persimmons, zucchinis

LAST OF:  Victorian strawberries (QLD strawberries will start in a few weeks).

To find a local greengrocer, visit abetterchoice.com.au