With Australia’s stone fruit season set to kick off next month, growers and exporters are gearing up for one of the most time-sensitive supply chains in the country’s horticultural calendar. From late November through March, orchards across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania burst into action, sending premium cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums and apricots to markets throughout Asia and the Middle East. The window is short, the margins tight, and timing is everything. As freight demand surges, forward planning and dependable cold-chain logistics will be the difference between fruit that arrives flawless — and fruit that arrives forgotten.
Where It All Grows
Australia’s climate is tailor-made for stone fruit — cool winters to set the buds and warm, dry summers to ripen the crop.
Victoria leads national production, with Shepparton, Cobram and Swan Hill known for nectarines, peaches and plums.
New South Wales’ Riverina and Orange regions deliver large volumes of apricots and nectarines.
South Australia’s Riverland and Adelaide Hills are famed for cherries and plums.
Tasmania closes the season with its late-harvest, export-grade cherries renowned for exceptional colour and sweetness.
Western Australia brings an early flush of peaches and nectarines, setting the pace for national shipments.
Market Timing & Global Appetite
Australia’s stone fruit export window runs from November to March, peaking December to February when the northern hemisphere sits in winter and appetite for fresh fruit surges.
Cherries: November–January — high-value shipments timed for Lunar New Year demand in China and Hong Kong.
Peaches & Nectarines: December–March — strong pull from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the UAE.
Plums & Apricots: December–February — stable trade into Southeast Asia and niche buyers across the Gulf.
Despite weather-driven variability, export performance remains robust, with total volumes exceeding 15,000 tonnes of cherries and solid growth in premium nectarines and plums over the past two years.
Handling & Export Process
Moving stone fruit from orchard to overseas shelf is a race against the clock. The process is tightly choreographed: fruit is hand-picked at optimum maturity, then pre-cooled within hours to lock in firmness and natural sugars. It’s sorted, graded and packed in temperature-controlled facilities before being loaded into refrigerated sea containers (reefers) set between 0 °C and 5 °C, depending on the variety.
Each container undergoes phytosanitary inspection, fumigation or cold treatment, and full export clearance under DAFF supervision. Once sealed, it’s hauled under cold chain to port and shipped to global buyers. Every link — from cool room to carrier — must function flawlessly. One delay in the chain can compromise fruit quality, shorten shelf life, and erode export returns.
Flying Fox Keeps Australia’s Stone Fruit Moving from Orchard to Ocean
At Flying Fox Solutions, we know that stone fruit logistics isn’t about luck — it’s about precision. Here’s how we give Australian exporters the edge when every hour counts:
Guaranteed Reefer Space: We secure seasonal allocations in advance, so our clients aren’t left chasing last-minute slots.
Seamless Cold-Chain Coordination: From orchard gate to port gate, we manage temperature integrity and timing end-to-end.
Expert Documentation & Compliance: Our team handles all phytosanitary certificates, treatment logs and inspection paperwork, ensuring shipments clear first time.
Real-Time Transparency: We provide live updates on container movement, temperature data and vessel schedules.
Adaptive Routing: When congestion or blank sailings hit, we pivot quickly with alternate carriers and services.
Straight-Up Pricing: Transparent, all-inclusive quotes with no hidden surprises — helping exporters plan margins confidently.
By combining operational discipline with hands-on service, Flying Fox keeps fruit moving, buyers happy and exporters focused on quality, not chaos.
We don’t just ship fruit — we deliver freshness, timing and trust.
Sources: ABARES – Australian Horticulture Outlook (Sep 2025), USDA GAIN – Australia Stone Fruit Annual 2025, DAFF – Summer Stone Fruit Export Snapshot, Hort Innovation Australia – Cherry & Nectarine Market Reports
Disclaimer – Market data is from public sources we consider reliable but has not been independently verified; accuracy is not guaranteed.