Southern Forests Celebrates a Bumper Feijoa Season: Premium Fruit, Passionate Growers, and a Heart-Shaped Mega Feijoa Lead the Harvest Highlights

Friday 2nd May 2025

It’s feijoa season in Western Australia’s Southern Forests, and the region’s growers are celebrating another successful harvest, marked by high volumes, exceptional quality, and a good dose of community spirit and casual rivalry.

Flow Clark of Karrdor, who packs, processes, and markets the fruit, says the season has exceeded expectations in both size and flavour of the final product.

“We’re seeing significantly higher volumes this season, but what’s really exciting is the quality — the flavour, aroma, and size are exceptional.”

Flow and her hardworking team have been handling over a tonne of fruit a day throughout the six-week harvest window, carefully grading and packing fresh, premium feijoas for distribution across Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland.

But it’s not all serious business. Each year, Flow runs a friendly competition among the growers who supply Karrdor, to find the largest feijoa of the season. This year’s front-runner? A 323-gram, heart-shaped mega fruit — the result of two feijoas naturally fused together.

“It’s always good to have a laugh,” says Clark. “A bit of friendly rivalry helps us all through the intensive and flat-out harvest period. The heart-shaped feijoa has definitely lifted everyone’s spirits!”

Alongside the fresh fruit trade, Karrdor is also turning second-grade feijoas into a range of gourmet products, including jams, chutneys, fresh juice, and a sparkling soda range. The team is currently experimenting with a small-batch distillery to create a feijoa-based alcohol, and developing a feijoa syrup that pairs beautifully with ice cream — the perfect dessert treat.

Feijoas — also known as pineapple guavas — thrive in the Southern Forests thanks to its cool climate, clean air, and rich soils. Their vibrant, sweet-tart flavour and tropical aroma make them a sought-after seasonal favourite among food lovers, chefs, and curious consumers around Australia.

Southern Forests Food Council Executive Chair Dr Arthur Wilson recently celebrated the harvest of this lesser-known fruit when sampling it for the first time. Dr Wilson expressed his admiration for the skill, passion, and ingenuity of the region's farmers.

"The incredible diversity of produce grown in the Southern Forests region is impressive," said Dr Wilson, "but add to it the innovation and ingenuity of the farmers that produce not only premium fresh produce but also looking at ways to reduce food waste and make the most out of a crop by value-adding and creating equally impressive gourmet products such as sodas, jams, juices and more."

“Feijoas showcase what the Southern Forests region is all about — premium produce, passionate growers, and a bit of fun along the way,” says Dr Wilson.

Feijoa season runs until the end of May. Local markets, farm gates – including pick-your-own at Fontanini Fruit and Nut Farm, and eateries across the region are offering feijoa-themed products and experiences — perfect for those wanting to taste something truly unique, fresh, and local.

Southern Forests Food Council:  

The Southern Forests Food Council was founded in 2010 by a group of passionate local producers who recognised that the wealth and abundance of produce grown in the region made it perfect for major food production and agri-tourism. Its role was formalised in 2012 after receiving a $5 million investment from the State Government. The investment is part of a $7 million allocation to the Shire of Manjimup for its Agricultural Expansion Project. The SFFC has received a further $725,000 over two and a half years through the State Government to focus on activities and implement strategies that secure its long-term sustainability and enhance the Genuinely Southern Forests brand.

The Food Council is committed to unifying the area’s world-class and diverse producers to strengthen the region’s economy, build resilience, attract investment and export opportunities, promote regional pride, and create sustainable jobs. It represents local producers, culinary and agri-tourism operators who live and work in what is WA’s premier food bowl, aiming to ultimately establish the Southern Forests as an internationally recognised sustainable agricultural region and culinary tourism destination.

The Southern Forests produces over 50 different types of fruits and vegetables, truffles and boutique produce, dairy, sheep, pork and cattle farms, as well as award-winning wineries and exceptional culinary experiences.  The Southern Forests region is heavily invested in agriculture, with $230 million of agricultural production coming from the region