When are apples in season in Australia?
No Australian state is harvesting apples in October. The next local crop starts in February, in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.
Apples keep for months in cold storage, so they are sold all year. At a farmers market in autumn you are buying them within weeks of picking, which is a different piece of fruit.
Are apples in season in October?
Not from Australian growers. Anything on a shelf in October is imported or has come out of storage.
Apples are sold long after harvest, so the shelf never looks seasonal. The months on this page are picking months, which is when a farmers market has the freshest crop.
Apple season by state
6 states grow apples commercially, and their seasons differ by weeks or months.
| Name | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Victoria in January: not in season | Victoria in February: in season | Victoria in March: at its peak | Victoria in April: at its peak | Victoria in May: in season | Victoria in June: not in season | Victoria in July: not in season | Victoria in August: not in season | Victoria in September: not in season | Victoria in October: not in season | Victoria in November: not in season | Victoria in December: not in season |
| New South Wales | New South Wales in January: not in season | New South Wales in February: in season | New South Wales in March: at its peak | New South Wales in April: at its peak | New South Wales in May: in season | New South Wales in June: not in season | New South Wales in July: not in season | New South Wales in August: not in season | New South Wales in September: not in season | New South Wales in October: not in season | New South Wales in November: not in season | New South Wales in December: not in season |
| Queensland | Queensland in January: not in season | Queensland in February: in season | Queensland in March: in season | Queensland in April: in season | Queensland in May: in season | Queensland in June: not in season | Queensland in July: not in season | Queensland in August: not in season | Queensland in September: not in season | Queensland in October: not in season | Queensland in November: not in season | Queensland in December: not in season |
| Tasmania | Tasmania in January: not in season | Tasmania in February: not in season | Tasmania in March: in season | Tasmania in April: at its peak | Tasmania in May: in season | Tasmania in June: in season | Tasmania in July: not in season | Tasmania in August: not in season | Tasmania in September: not in season | Tasmania in October: not in season | Tasmania in November: not in season | Tasmania in December: not in season |
| Western Australia | Western Australia in January: not in season | Western Australia in February: in season | Western Australia in March: in season | Western Australia in April: in season | Western Australia in May: in season | Western Australia in June: in season | Western Australia in July: not in season | Western Australia in August: not in season | Western Australia in September: not in season | Western Australia in October: not in season | Western Australia in November: not in season | Western Australia in December: not in season |
| South Australia | South Australia in January: not in season | South Australia in February: in season | South Australia in March: in season | South Australia in April: in season | South Australia in May: in season | South Australia in June: in season | South Australia in July: not in season | South Australia in August: not in season | South Australia in September: not in season | South Australia in October: not in season | South Australia in November: not in season | South Australia in December: not in season |
Western Australia has the longest picking season, February to June. Tasmania has the shortest, March to June. Taking every growing state together, the crop is at its best in March to April.
Apple varieties and when each is in season
- Granny SmithMarch to December, best March to April
- Pink LadyApril to August, best April to June
- Royal GalaMarch to July, best March to April
- SundownerMarch to October, best March to April
Where apples are grown in Australia
- Victoria46%
- New South Wales14%
- Queensland11%
- Tasmania10%
- Western Australia10%
- South Australia10%
Share of national production by state.
Where to buy apples
Out of season locally, so a farmers market will not have it. Worth checking what is in season instead.
In season instead in October
What growers in New South Wales and Victoria are bringing to market while apples are out of season.
★ Asian greens
★ Asparagus
★ Blueberry
★ Leek
★ Peas
★ Potato
Avocado
Banana
Beetroot
BroccoliFrequently Asked Questions
- When is apple season in Australia?
- Victoria grows the most, about 46% of the national crop, and picks from February to May. Elsewhere: New South Wales from February to May, Queensland from February to May, Tasmania from March to June and Western Australia from February to June.
- Are apples in season in October?
- Not locally. No Australian state harvests apples in October, and the next local crop starts in February in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. Anything on a shelf now is imported or from storage.
- Where are apples grown in Australia?
- Victoria (46%), New South Wales (14%) and Queensland (11%) grow the largest share of Australian apples.
- Why can you buy apples all year?
- Apples are sold long after harvest, from cold storage, curing or glasshouse growing, so the shelf never looks seasonal. The months on this page are when growers are actually picking, which is when a farmers market has the freshest crop.
- When are the different apple varieties in season?
- Granny Smith: March to December. Pink Lady: April to August. Royal Gala: March to July. Sundowner: March to October.
Harvest months from our own research across Australian growing regions and national production figures.