Are strawberries in season in winter?

In Queensland and Western Australia, yes. Both start picking in June and run through to November, which is the opposite of the summer season in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

When do Australian blueberries start?

June in New South Wales, where the mid north coast grows most of the country's crop. It starts at its peak and holds it until January. Queensland and Western Australia follow in August, and Victoria and Tasmania not until December.

What vegetables are in season in June?

Cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, beetroot, carrots, parsnips and globe artichokes are at their peak in Victoria. Fennel starts in Victoria and Queensland. Queensland has broccoli, green beans, zucchini and sweet potato at their peak.

What's in Season in June in Australia

Q: What fruit is in season in June in Australia?

Citrus. Mandarins start in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia, and are at their peak in Queensland. Oranges start in New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia. Strawberries begin in Queensland and Western Australia, and blueberries reach their peak in New South Wales.

June is when citrus arrives. Mandarins start in four states at once and oranges in three, and for the next few months they are the fruit worth buying in the south.

The other June surprise is berries. Strawberries start in Queensland and Western Australia, and blueberries in New South Wales. Winter is their season there.

Harvest months, when growers are picking.

Clay illustration of a fresh produce hall with tiered crates of fruit and vegetables

Mandarins and oranges

Mandarins start in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia. Queensland, which began in May, is already at its peak. Oranges start in New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia, with Victoria a month behind.

Grapefruit is at its peak in Victoria and South Australia and starts in New South Wales. Lemons are at their peak in Queensland.

Winter berries

Queensland and Western Australia both start picking strawberries in June. People think of strawberries as a summer fruit, and in Victoria they are. The Queensland crop is a separate winter season that runs to November.

Blueberries start in New South Wales and go straight to their peak. The mid north coast grows most of the country's blueberries and picks from now until January. Raspberries start in New South Wales and Queensland.

Victoria's vegetable peak

Ten crops are at their peak in Victoria, nearly all of them vegetables: cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, beetroot, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, spinach and silverbeet, and the globe artichoke. Fennel starts. It is a cool season crop grown mostly in Victoria and at its best through winter.

Not much is ending. Kiwifruit finishes in Victoria, and apples finish in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, which closes the apple harvest nationally.

Queensland in full swing

Queensland has 27 crops and thirteen at their peak, among them avocados, bananas, broccoli, green beans, zucchini and sweet potato. Its winter tomatoes are being picked. Through winter, a lot of the country's fresh vegetables come from here.

Tasmania

Eight crops, with carrots and potatoes at their peak. Cauliflower starts and pumpkin finishes. A Tasmanian market in June is a root vegetable market, and an honest one.

Citrus keeps, berries do not

Citrus is the most forgiving fruit you can buy. Mandarins and oranges ripen uncovered on the bench and then keep for up to a month in the fridge in a bag. Grapefruit keeps for up to three weeks. Lemons last a week on the bench and up to a month refrigerated.

The winter berries are the opposite. Strawberries and raspberries have one to two days in the fridge in a vented container, so buy them the day you want them. Blueberries are the sturdy ones, at around ten days.

On the vegetable side, cauliflower keeps about a week, beetroot two, and cabbage two to three. That is the practical case for a winter market: a single trip can stock a fortnight.

Storage times here are from the City of Darebin's food storage chart, a Victorian council guide.

July

Oranges start in Victoria. Avocados start in New South Wales. Queensland adds cauliflower and peas.

Each state has its own page: Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia or Tasmania. The season lookup shows any month, and May is the guide before this one.