What’s in Season in Melbourne?
A Seasonal Eating Guide
“Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.” — Anthony Bourdain
Chefs the world over say the secret to great food is simple: fresh, seasonal ingredients. But while chefs have local farmers on speed dial, for many of us looking at shelves full of imported produce, it’s hard to know what is actually in season.
This guide has been built through many conversations with CERES urban farmers at Joe’s Market Garden (Coburg) and Honey Lane (Brunswick), as well as the CERES Fair Food buyers who work closely with growers across Victoria. It includes fruit, vegetables and herbs being harvested locally, grown with minimal inputs (no heated greenhouses here—just sunshine, soil and timing).
What we’re harvesting
Click for seasonal recipes from CERES Fair Food
Vegetables
Asian greens, Asparagus, Beetroot, Green beans, Broad beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Daikon, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Radish, Leafy greens (Kale, Chard, Rocket, Silverbeet) Spring onions, Swede, Tomatoes, Zucchini.
Fruit
Berries (strawberries, raspberries and blackberries), Stone Fruits (apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines and cherries), Grapes, Figs, Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew), Rhubarb, Citrus (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits).
Herbs
Basil, Chives, Coriander, Dill, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme.
What we’re harvesting now
Click for seasonal recipes from CERES Fair Food
Asian greens, Beetroot, Green beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chillies, Cucumber, Corn, Daikon, Eggplant, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Radish, Leafy greens (Kale, Chard, Rocket, Silverbeet) Spring onions, Tomatoes, Zucchini.
Fruits
Berries (strawberries, raspberries and blackberries), Stone Fruits (apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines and cherries), Grapes, Figs, Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew), Rhubarb, Citrus (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits).
What we’re harvesting now
Click for seasonal recipes from CERES Fair Food
Asian greens, Beetroot, Green beans, Broccoli, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chillies, Cucumber, Corn, Daikon, Eggplant, Fennel, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Leafy greens (Kale, Chard, Rocket, Silverbeet), Peas, Pumpkin, Radish, Spring onions, Tomatoes, Zucchini.
Fruits
Apples (early varieties like Gala and Granny Smith), Avocados, Berries (strawberries, raspberries and blackberries), Citrus (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits), Figs, Grapes, Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew), Passionfruit, Stone Fruits (apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines and cherries).
Herbs
Basil, Chives, Coriander, Dill, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme.
What we’re harvesting now
Click for seasonal recipes from CERES Fair Food
Asian greens, Beetroot, Green beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Capsicum, Cauliflower, Chillies, Cucumber, Corn, Daikon, Eggplant, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Leafy greens (Kale, Chard, Rocket, Silverbeet), Peas, Pumpkin, Radish, Spring onions, Tomatoes, Zucchini.
Fruit
Apples, Avocados, Berries (strawberries, raspberries and blackberries), Citrus (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits), Figs, Grapes, Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew), Pears, Stone Fruits (apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines and cherries).
Herbs
Basil, Chives, Coriander, Dill, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme.
What we’re harvesting now
Click for seasonal recipes from CERES Fair Food
Asian greens, Beetroot, Green beans, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Cauliflower, Celery, Chillies, Cucumber, Corn, Daikon, Eggplant, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Leafy greens (Kale, Chard, Rocket, Silverbeet), Peas, Pumpkin, Radish, Spring onions, Tomatoes, Zucchini.
Fruit
Apples, Avocados, Berries (strawberries, raspberries and blackberries), Chestnuts, Citrus (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits), Feijoas, Figs, Grapes, Kiwi Fruit, Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew), Pears, Persimmons, Pomegranates, Stone Fruits (plums), Quince.
Herbs
Basil, Chives, Coriander, Dill, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme.
What we’re harvesting now
Click for seasonal recipes from CERES Fair Food
Asian greens, Beetroot, Green beans, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Cauliflower, Celery, Chillies, Cucumber, Corn, Daikon, Eggplant, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Leafy greens (Kale, Chard, Rocket, Silverbeet), Parsnips, Peas, Pumpkin, Radish, Spring onions.
Fruit
Apples, Avocados, Berries (strawberries, raspberries and blackberries), Chestnuts, Citrus (lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits), Feijoas, Grapes, Kiwi Fruit, Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew), Pears, Persimmons, Pomegranates, Quince.
Herbs
Basil, Chives, Coriander, Dill, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme.
What we’re harvesting now
Click for seasonal recipes from CERES Fair Food
Asian greens, Beetroot,Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Celeriac, Chillies, Daikon, Eggplant, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Leafy greens (Kale, Chard, Rocket, Silverbeet, Spinach), Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radish, Spring onion, Swede, Turnip.
Fruit
Apples, Avocados, Chestnuts, Citrus (lemons, limes, grapefruits, mandarins, oranges, tangelos), Feijoas, Kiwi Fruit, Pears, Pomegranates, Quince, Rhubarb.
Herbs
What we’re harvesting now
Click for seasonal recipes from CERES Fair Food
Asian greens, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Celeriac, Chillies, Daikon, Eggplant, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Leafy greens (Kale, Chard, Rocket, Silverbeet, Spinach), Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radish, Rhubarb, Spring onion, Swede, Turnip.
Fruit
Apples, Avocados, Citrus (lemons, limes, grapefruits, mandarins, oranges, tangelos), Kiwi Fruit, Pears, Pomegranates, Quince.
Herbs
Chives, Coriander, Dill, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme.
Coming soon!
Coming soon!
What we’re harvesting
Click for seasonal recipes from CERES Fair Food
Vegetables
Artichoke (Globe), Asian greens, Asparagus, Beetroot, Green beans, Broad beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Daikon, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Radish, Leafy greens (Kale, Chard, Rocket, Silverbeet, Mustard Greens) Spring onions, Swede, Turnips.
What we’re harvesting
Click for seasonal recipes from CERES Fair Food
Vegetables
Artichoke (Globe), Asian greens, Asparagus, Beetroot, Green beans, Broad beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Daikon, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Radish, Leafy greens (Kale, Chard, Rocket, Silverbeet, Mustard Greens) Spring onions, Swede, Turnips.
VISIT CERES FARMS
Buy produce straight from our certified organic farms in Brunswick and Coburg.
The CERES Grocery is open everyday and the farmgate at CERES Joe’s Market Garden opens on Saturday morning.
Why Seasonal Eating Matters
More affordable
When food is in season, it’s abundant – which usually means lower prices. You’re also not paying for extra inputs like storage, transport or import costs.
Supports local farmers
Eating seasonally means eating what’s growing locally. That keeps your food dollars in the hands of nearby growers and helps ensure they’re still growing into the future. A seasonal, local food system is also more resilient—less vulnerable to global shocks like supply chain issues or climate disruptions.
Reduces food miles
Seasonal produce doesn’t need to be flown in from afar. That means a smaller carbon footprint, less packaging, and a more sustainable food system. It also means fresher, better-tasting food for you.
Encourages variety
Seasonal eating naturally rotates your diet throughout the year. As the saying goes: what grows together, goes together—so you can’t really go wrong when you eat in-season.
Reconnects us with country
Perhaps most importantly, eating seasonally brings us back into rhythm with the land we live on. It reminds us that we’re part of the ecosystem we depend on.
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