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Peaches are in season in Australia in summer, with availability from late spring to early autumn. Makes sense given they are called summerfruit alongside their less furry sibling, nectarines and other stonefruits.
Peach season in Australia is from October to May, with the peak supply usually in January. The season can peak slightly earlier than the nectarine season due to early growing in subtropical regions.
Similarly to nectarines, peaches are separated into white flesh or yellow flesh varieties, as well as freestone or clingstone. The best time to pick peaches is after they have had maximum time to sweeten on the tree. If a peach starts to get green spots it’s too late.
Growers usually need to wait up to 3 years before peach trees bear fruit, with peak growing seasons for a peach tree between years 4 and 8. Some trees can grow both nectarines and peaches.
White peaches are in season from December to April. The start of the white peach season can be after the yellow varieties. Donut peaches are increasingly popular and have a pale yellow flesh most similar to white peaches.
Yellow peaches are in season from late November to early April. The yellow peach season is typically the same as white flesh varieties.
Peaches are native to China just like their close relative the nectarine. Along with apples, peaches are said to have been introduce to Australia by European and Chinese settlers in the 1890s. The most popular varieties grown in Australia include Cal Red, Rich Lady, Elegant lady, Crown Princess, O’Henry. [FAO]
Different peach varieties thrive in different areas of Australia with cold weather tolerance the main consideration. High and medium chill varieties are the major inflow from the middle of the peach season, with low chill varieties less tolerant but arriving earlier in the season from warmer climates in WA and QLD. Up to 30% of Australian peaches come from subtropical regions whereas only 25% of nectarines may grow in these regions.
Peaches reach their best flavour when they are left to ripen on the tree. Unfortunately this means fruit that travels longer distances is often picked earlier and loses it’s juicy and sweet flavour. Buying your peaches locally mean you can get the best fruit.
Nectarines are exported in approximately twice the volume of peaches so luckily more local Australian peaches stay in the country for our consumption.
