What’s growing and slowing in October 2022?
Fruit
Tropical fruits have started, and Northern Territory mangoes are on, it is shaping up to be a bumper mango season this year. Papaya and melons are in good supply, bananas usually accelerate with the warmer conditions so, quantities should rise, and prices should fall. Apples will be with us until the new season kicks off but expect the range and the quality to diminish. There are still a few pears around, which is unusual this late in the year. It is therefore expected for them to finish towards the end on the month. A new season of pears will start again in early January.
Strawberries have had a terrible season in Queensland, they do not do well in the wet weather, and all we have had is wet. The good news is that the southern growers kick off their season in early summer, so supply may start to improve at the end of the month.
Oranges will start to transition from navels to valencia’s. Limes and lemons will shorten up as they do every year around this time. Pineapples will become more available as will watermelon. We may also see the first plums at the end of the month. Blueberries will be available right through October but expect supply to be short and prices to be high; like strawberries, they don’t fare well in the wet. Cherries may come on late October or early November.
Avocados have had another bumper season and there is still a glut of hass avocadoes, prices are at record lows, and it is expected to stay that way through October.
Vegetables
Veggies migrate south for the summer. It is too hot to grow them in Queensland during the summer months, so as things warm up, expect more and more produce lines to come from down south. This can’t happen soon enough this year, with the poor conditions in Queensland; expect some shortages till the southern season is in full swing.
Tomatoes have been very short this year. The Bundaberg region had weather and staffing issues, so the market has been undersupplied for most of the Queensland season. Thankfully, southern growers will start mid to late October, with regions like western Victoria and South Australia supplying into the market. That said, we expect tomatoes to be short for most of this summer. The supply of cherry tomatoes and mini roma is better, but still not enough to fill the gap in tomato supply.
Asparagus, beans, and broccoli are all in good supply. Carrots, fennel, and onions are staples in October as well. Jap and kent pumpkin supply has shortened. Sweet corn, squash and zucchini are coming out of several regions, so the supply should stay steady through to Christmas.
Cabbages may shorten up towards the end of the month. Expect the “summer cabbages” that are available to be smaller and less dense. The cauliflower and celery supply will also tighten as the weather heats up.
Potatoes will be short and expensive this year, another consequence of the rain, it is not expected for this to improve until the growers in Victoria begin their season.
Happy Spring and remember to eat all of your colours.
The Team at United Organics
Image: The Diggers Club
