Autumn is in full swing at Melbourne Market, with peak-season apples, navel oranges, and vegetables such as fennel and Brussels sprouts leading the seasonal shift. Traders at Victoria's wholesale fruit, vegetable, and cut flower trading centre report strong quality across broccoli and snow peas, while pomegranates, persimmons, and tropical produce continue to offer variety as the weather cools.
New-season fruit is building momentum, with peak harvest varieties of apples and pears now at their freshest. Citrus is also starting to take centre stage, with the first Navelina and M7 oranges from Mildura and South Australia preparing to arrive, alongside the first mandarins and lemons from Queensland.
© Melbourne Market Authority
Roy Thierry from Geelong Citrus Packers says the citrus transition is well underway. "We're a couple of weeks away from Mildura and South Australian Navelinas and the M7 variation of oranges," he says. "Local Victorian mandarins are also set to come in a month's time."
Vegetables are also transitioning, with new-season fennel and Brussels sprouts now entering the market from local growing regions.
Elliot Cucinotta from HC Produce says cooler-weather produce is gaining traction. "Fennel is starting to come out of Werribee. It's a favourite in many salads and alongside roasted meats," he says. "Victorian Brussels sprouts are also coming in. Delicious in soups, and roasted with a bit of olive oil and salt."
While new lines arrive, some warm-weather produce is nearing the end of its season. Figs and black plums are finishing, while local Victorian lettuce and corn are in their final weeks as supply shifts north to Queensland.
May also marks the arrival of several fruit lines, including Australian jujubes and persimmons from Cobram. With peak harvest underway, apples and pears remain at their freshest. Grapes continue to eat well, although volumes are tightening as the season concludes.
© Melbourne Market Authority
Tropical fruit continues with longans and custard apples from Queensland, while prickly pears and grapefruit are also in supply.
Greens and brassicas remain in good supply and quality, particularly broccoli and snow peas. Victorian broccoli from Werribee and snow peas from Mildura are performing well.
Cucinotta says the quality of winter staples is strong this month, with fennel and Brussels sprouts providing options for seasonal dishes. Local zucchinis are nearing the end of their season.
With a mix of peak-season arrivals, late-summer produce, and autumn lines, May remains a busy period at Melbourne Market.
Seasonal snapshot: First of pomegranates, Navelinas and M7 oranges (SA/Mildura), persimmons (Cobram), longans (QLD), fennel (Werribee), and Brussels sprouts (VIC); last of figs, black plums, Adora seedless grapes, local zucchinis, local Victorian lettuce, and Valencia oranges; lots of Australian jujubes, custard apples (QLD), prickly pears, snow peas (Mildura), broccoli (Werribee), and grapefruit; eating well are apples and pears (peak harvest), grapes.
© Melbourne Market AuthorityFor more information:
Melbourne Market Authority
Tel: +61 (0) 3 9258 6144
Email: [email protected]
www.melbournemarket.com.au
