Fruit

Apted’s Orchards
Products:
Apples and pears
Local outlets:
Farm gate (both 864 Cottlesbridge-Strathewen Road, Arthurs Creek, 3099 and 1105 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake West, 3757).
Bolton Street Fruit Market, Eltham
Local Fine Foods, Diamond Creek
Township/suburb:
Arthurs Creek
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Available February to November. Apted’s Orchards is a family owned company. It operates an orchard and grazing enterprise from Arthurs Creek and Kinglake West north east of Melbourne that has spanned 5 generations. The farm gate sales at 864 Cottlesbridge-Strathewen Road Arthurs Creek are proving very popular, with 2kg bags of apples straight from the bin – that is, unwaxed and unsorted. Farm gate sales also operate from 1105 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road, Kinglake West. Wholesale marketing is done through the associated Melbourne Pear Company which operates out of the Footscray Wholesale Market.

Benny’s Berries
Products:
Strawberries and jams
Local outlets:
Toscano’s Kew
Yarra Glen Craft Market
Township/suburb:
Kilsyth
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Benny’s Berries are well known for their fresh strawberries. In addition, their jams include blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, mixed berry and spiced fig with pear and walnut. These jams are cooked in small batches ensuring minimal cooking times, enhancing the fullest flavours and colours. They are made from a traditional classic family recipe using all natural ingredients sourced from the Yarra Valley. The philosophy is to keep it simple (only 3 ingredients are used) and natural, the way our grandmas use to make it.

Kinglake Vegetables
Products:
A wide range of vegetables
Township/suburb:
Kinglake
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

The vegetables grown by Kinglake Vegetables include: beans, beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbages (savoy & purple), capsicum, cauliflower, carrots, celery, eggplant, fennel, kale, leeks, swedes, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, silverbeet, snow peas, spring onions, tomatoes and zucchini. Their fruit includes: blackberries, blueberries kiwifruit and raspberries.

They grow slowly, traditionally, using their own seeds. It is colder at their farm in Kinglake than some other parts of Victoria so sometimes that means their produce isn’t ready as early as other areas.

Kinglake West Blueberries
Products:
Blueberries (and sometimes raspberries)
Local outlets:
Township/suburb:
Kinglake West
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

The blueberries are available December and January.

Kookaberry Strawberry Farm
Products:
Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, figs, persimmon. Jams, syrups and vinegars. Soup, berry pies and frozen berries.
Local outlets:
Notes (in their own words):

Fresh strawberries available mid October to mid June, raspberries available December to June, blackberries available from late December to mid March, and boysenberries and logonberries available in season. Fresh, hot homemade soup, frozen berries and award-winning homemade jams and syrups available all year. The soup is organic, Vegan-friendly and gluten-free. Most of the berries are spray-free.

Petty’s Orchard
Products:
Apples
Certified Organic
Township/suburb:
Templestowe
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

Petty’s Orchard occupies 44 hectares of land and encompasses an antique apple orchard, commercial orchard, wetlands and bird hide. It is one of Melbourne’s oldest commercial orchards. It has the largest collection of heritage apple varieties on mainland Australia, including more than 200 varieties of old and rare apples.

Spirli Strawberries
Products:
Strawberries
Local outlets:
Farm gate
Township/suburb:
Wandin North
Municipality:
Yarra Ranges
Notes (in their own words):

Available November to April. Spirli Strawberries is a small strawberry farm focused on growing a quality berry for taste and appearance.

Weeping Grevillea Nursery
Products:
Lemons, limes and herbs. Also, seasonally, pumpkins, blood oranges, grapefruit, jams and marmalade.
Local outlets:
Roadside cart
Township/suburb:
Kangaroo Ground
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Many day trippers take great delight in discovering the fresh produce and plants on offer in this nursery’s roadside cart. Lemons, limes and herbs are available all year round. Seasonal produce includes pumpkins, blood oranges and grapefruit, as well as jams, fruit jellies and marmalade made from fruit from the property.