When is produce cheapest in Australia? A seasonal guide to save money.
When is produce cheapest in Australia? Learn what fruit and vegetables to buy each season to save money on groceries and eat better.
The cheapest fruit and vegetables you'll find at the supermarket are the ones in season right now. When produce is local and plentiful, supply goes up and prices drop. You save money, and the food tastes better too.
This guide shows you what's in season each quarter in Australia, so you can plan your shop and your meals around prices that actually work for your budget.
What produce is cheapest right now?
Australia has four distinct seasons, and each one brings its own fruit and vegetables to peak supply. The table below shows what's in season each quarter.
| Season | Peak fruit | Peak vegetables |
|---|---|---|
| Summer December–February | Mangoes, watermelon, cherries, stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines) | Sweet corn, capsicum, cucumber, tomatoes, leafy greens |
| Autumn March–May | Apples (Royal Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady), figs, pears, grapes | Root vegetables, leafy greens, mushrooms |
| Winter June–August | Citrus (lemons, mandarins, oranges), avocados, kiwifruit, persimmons, custard apples | Potatoes, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, pumpkin |
| Spring September–November | Strawberries, pineapple, Valencia oranges, avocados, bananas, mandarins | Asparagus, new-season greens, snap peas, artichokes |
Why does seasonal produce cost less?
When fruit and vegetables are grown locally and in season, farmers harvest in bulk and supply to supermarkets is high. More supply means lower prices. Out-of-season produce has to come from interstate or overseas, which adds transport and storage costs. You pay the difference.
How do you shop the seasons to save money?
Buy and freeze. When stone fruit, berries or soft fruit hit their seasonal low, buy extra and freeze. You'll have them for smoothies, desserts and cooking all year round.
Swap recipes to the cheapest veg. If capsicum is expensive this week but broccoli is on its seasonal low, build next week's meals around broccoli instead.
Use frozen as a backup. Frozen fruit and vegetables are harvested and frozen at peak ripeness. They're just as nutritious as fresh and a solid year-round option when what you want is out of season.
Check the price history. Pinch stores up to 52 weeks of price history for the produce we track. Before you stock up, check whether a fruit or veg has actually hit its seasonal low this year, rather than guessing.
Does eating seasonally actually save you money?
Yes. Watermelon in summer is typically at its lowest price when local supply peaks. Sweet corn has been seen as low as around $1 an ear in peak summer (example only). Mangoes drop significantly when they're in season locally. By eating what's in season, you hit these price valleys naturally.
The maths work out: buying a seasonal vegetable at its peak costs less than buying it out of season. Over a year of grocery shopping, that adds up.
What if you don't like what's in season?
Frozen and canned options are always available and often cheaper than fresh when that produce is out of season. You're not locked into eating only what's in season right now, you're just making smarter choices when you do buy fresh.
The bottom line
Eating seasonally is one of the easiest ways to cut your grocery bill. Produce in season is cheaper and better quality. Plan your meals around what's plentiful each quarter, buy extra and freeze, and use Pinch to confirm a seasonal low before you shop.
Download Pinch (free). Compare prices across 74,000+ products at Woolworths, Coles, ALDI and Harris Farm Markets. No ads. No data selling. See 52 weeks of price history for every product we track.
Sources
- Australian seasonal produce guides and agricultural seasonal calendars
- Pinch price data: weekly updates across Woolworths, Coles, ALDI and Harris Farm Markets, 52-week history per product