The Sweet Spot of Summer: NZ Stone Fruit at Its Best

Stone fruit that’s hand-picked, perfectly ripe, and ready to inspire your seasonal menu creations. 

There’s a small window each summer when stone fruit is simply unbeatable: nectarines that drip at the first slice, peaches that perfume the kitchen, plums that are dark and jammy, and apricots that taste like sunshine. In December, we headed into the orchards to capture what makes stone fruit so special at its peak: careful growing, perfectly judged ripeness, and fruit that’s handled with real care.

Peak season stone fruit changes how fruit performs on the plate and in prep.  

When stone fruit is at its best, you get: 

• Better flavour and texture (sweet, fragrant, juicy) 

• Better yield (less trimming, less disappointment, more usable fruit) 

• Better versatility (fresh, grilled, roasted, baked, blended, pickled) 

• Better value (peak supply tends to mean stronger buying and more consistent quality) 

Why New Zealand stone fruit tastes so good 

New Zealand is a sweet spot for growing stone fruit because our conditions help flavour develop naturally. Warm, sunny days build sweetness while cooler nights help lock in that fresh, vibrant fruit. The result is stone fruit that doesn’t just look good in the crate, it earns its place on the menu. 

Following the season: North Island to the Deep South 

One of the best things about New Zealand stone fruit is that the season moves, meaning there’s fresh momentum across summer. This staggered regional seasonality helps keep supply flowing and gives kitchens more opportunity to plan seasonal features with confidence. 

Hawke’s Bay (North Island) – the early lift 

Hawke’s Bay is often an early signal that stone fruit season is underway. It’s when menus start to shift into summer mode and you can begin building seasonal excitement. Think fresh salads, specials boards, cabinet food, and

desserts that feel light and sunny. 

Central Otago (South Island) – the late-season peak 

As the season rolls on, Central Otago fruit can really bring that “deep summer” feel, often associated with intense flavour thanks to hot days and cooler nights. It’s a great time to refresh your menu features, keep stone fruit front-of-mind, and run limited-time specials while it’s at its very best. 

Why kitchens should choose Bidfood for stone fruit 

Bidfood offers a strong seasonal range across nectarines, peaches, plums and apricots, with fruit selected and supplied for the realities of busy kitchens. Because different growing regions come into peak at different times, we’re also able to support better seasonal continuity throughout summer.  

In short: less admin, less uncertainty, more seasonal confidence. 

Ready to make stone fruit the hero? 

Stone fruit is at its best right now- bright, juicy, and made for summer menus. Check in with your Bidfood representative for what’s landing each week so you can plan specials, desserts and drinks around the best of the season.