When Are Cashews Harvested? Harvest Seasons Around the World

A cashew tree flowers once a year, and the timing depends on which side of the equator it grows on. In the northern hemisphere, in countries such as India, Vietnam and the West African producers, flowering runs from about December to April. In the southern hemisphere, in places like Brazil and East Africa, it runs roughly from June to December, with a peak from September to November.

Once a flower is pollinated, the nut and its apple take about two to three months to mature, depending on the variety and the weather. That's quick compared with many tree crops, and it means a harvest follows flowering fairly soon.

In the north, the harvest comes early in the calendar year and runs to about mid-year. In the south, it begins around September or October and continues into the start of the next year. Within a country the harvest isn't a single day: trees ripen over several weeks, so farmers collect nuts repeatedly during a period of about three to four months.

In Sri Lanka, flowering starts around November and carries on into the early months of the year, and the main harvest falls around March and April, sometimes stretching into May. We cover why the dry zone suits this timing in where cashew trees grow.

In the northern hemisphere, including India, Vietnam and West Africa, flowering runs from about December to April and the harvest comes early in the year, running to about mid-year. In the southern hemisphere, including Brazil and East Africa, flowering runs from about June to December and the harvest begins around September or October and continues into the new year. In Sri Lanka, flowering starts around November and the main harvest falls around March and April, sometimes into May.

Ripe cashew fruits are collected over several weeks, since the trees do not ripen all at once. In many places the ripe fruits are gathered from the ground or picked from the tree, and the nut is separated from the apple, which is eaten, juiced or made into preserves, as we explain in what is a cashew apple?. The nuts are then spread in the sun to dry, as we describe in why cashews are dried and stored so carefully.

Because there are harvests at different times of year around the world, cashews are available all year, but supply is tightest just before each new crop arrives. An unusual season, such as heavy rain at flowering or a hard drought, can shrink a crop and push prices up. Our guide to kaju prices in Sri Lanka looks at the other factors.

Because cashews are processed all year, you can buy them in any month, but if you are planning a large order for an event, a wedding or a corporate gift, it is wise to order early and to compare prices before you commit. Supply is tightest just before each new crop, and an unusual season can move prices. Our cashew price guide shows current prices for each pack size.

Raw cashews are dried in the sun and stored, and then processed over the year, which is why you can buy fresh-roasted cashews in any month. We roast ours to order, so you get a freshly roasted pack whenever you order from the shop.