The loquat is the first stone fruit arriving at the markets in spring. In Israel it matures between the end of February and the end of March. In Spain it does so from March until May, whereas in Japan it is harvested at the beginning of June. It is a season fruit that can only be consumed during these periods, since it is badly preserved.
The following table contains information on the availability of this fruit in the United Kingdom markets. The months in which each country imports the produce and the weight of the packages used are also indicated.
| Country of origin | Availability | Weight of the packages |
|---|
| Australia | Sporadically | Various |
| Brazil | Mid April-May | 5kg |
| Chile | September-December | Various |
| Cyprus | May-July | 3/6kg |
| India | December | 2/5kg |
| Israel | April-May | 4kg |
| Italy | March-June | Various |
| Spain | April-June | 5/6kg |
| Turkey | Sporadically | Various |
| The United States | Sporadically | Various |
Source: Fresh Produce Desk Book (1998)
