VICTORIA'S stonefruit growers are hoping for a better season as harvest ramps up across the state.
Prices have dropped as larger volumes of these much sought after summer fruits begin to stack up at the Melbourne wholesale market.
FreshState price reporting officer Tony Nigro said there was not a large quantity of big fruit around because of the effects of the long, cool, dry winter.
"There's a lot of smaller to medium-size fruit and anything that's a good size gets a premium," Mr Nigro said.
"Good varieties of fruit with good flavour will start coming in now ... in the next couple of weeks."
Mr Nigro said apricots were selling at $10 to $20 for a 5kg carton and $20 to $30 for 10kg cartons at the Melbourne Market.
Nectarines were selling at $15 to $30 a tray and $15 to $30 per carton for those with yellow flesh or $20 to $35 for cartons of nectarines with white flesh.
Peaches, regardless of flesh colour, were making $18 to $30 a tray and $18 to $35 per carton.
Meanwhile, retail prices were varying from $4 to $6 a kilogram.
Swan Hill Summerfruits Development Association president Michael Tripodi said a good crop set meant growers had been required to thin 20 per cent more than last year to ensure fruit was of a suitable size to sell on the fresh market.
"Last year we had a bit of a glut when one variety started, Zee Fire, which is the first big variety of yellow nectarine," Mr Tripodi said.
"If we can get through that better than last year, I would say we will be on to a good year," he said.
"It's been a while since we've had a good strong year - probably four seasons ago.
"The wheat cockies are having a good year, so if we can back up to that, it will be really good for Swan Hill, I can tell you."
