Queensland macadamias and organic nuts: a shopper's guide

Guide · 2026-10-17 · 4 min read · by the Blueberry Bear Team

Macadamias are one of the few commercial food crops that are native to Australia, and they're native to our patch: the coastal ranges and foothills of south-east Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. One species, Macadamia integrifolia, is even known as the Queensland nut. This guide covers how macadamias are grown, how to read organic and origin labels on nuts, and how to store them.

A very local nut

Four macadamia species grow wild in subtropical rainforest in south-east Queensland and northern NSW. Two of them, Macadamia integrifolia and M. tetraphylla, and hybrids of them, are grown commercially. Wild macadamias are threatened species in their natural habitat, so the nuts you buy come from orchards, not the bush.

Commercial growing is concentrated in northern NSW and south-east Queensland, with large plantings around Bundaberg, plus the Gympie, Glass House Mountains and Sunshine Coast areas.

How the harvest works

According to the Australian Macadamia Society:

• Trees flower in early spring (roughly August to October).
• Nuts form in early summer, and their shells harden and fill with oil over December and January.
• Between March and September, mature nuts fall to the ground and are collected regularly by harvesters.
• The green husk is removed soon after harvest and the nuts are dried before cracking.

So "new season" macadamias appear from autumn onwards, but because dried nut-in-shell stores well, macadamias are available all year.

Organic macadamias and other nuts

Only a small share of Australian macadamias are certified organic. When you shop:

• Look for a certifier logo and number (ACO, OFC, SXC or another recognised certifier) and check it on the register. See how to check an organic certificate.
• Check who's certified. A grower may be certified for the orchard, and a separate processor for cracking, roasting and packing. Certified packed nuts should show a certificate covering the packer or brand.
• Flavoured nuts: honey-roasted, salted or chocolate-coated nuts have extra ingredients. "Made with organic macadamias" usually means the nuts are organic but some other ingredients may not be. See organic logos and label wording.

Read the origin label too

Nuts are a priority food under Australia's country of origin rules, so packed nuts should show a standard mark or origin statement, and loose nuts in bulk bins need a sign nearby. Organic almonds, cashews, walnuts and Brazil nuts sold here are often imported. If you want Australian nuts, read the bar: "Packed in Australia from less than 10% Australian ingredients" means the nuts were grown elsewhere. Our country of origin guide explains the labels.

Buying tips

• Nut-in-shell keeps longest. You'll need a good cracker (macadamia shells are famously hard).
• Kernel pieces are cheaper than whole kernels and fine for baking.
• Buy in amounts you'll use. Nuts are high in oil and can go rancid. Bulk co-ops let you buy small amounts. See our bulk buying guide.
• Farm gates and markets in macadamia areas sometimes sell direct. Ask whether they're certified, and who certifies them.

Storing nuts

• Keep them in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
• In a Queensland summer, the fridge or freezer keeps them fresher for longer.
• Smell before using: rancid nuts smell like paint or old oil.

Nuts, school and allergies

Many Queensland schools and early childhood services have rules about nuts because of allergies. An organic nut bar is still a nut bar. Check your school or centre's policy before packing nuts or nut products, and see our lunchbox snack guide. For questions about allergies or introducing nuts to children, talk to your GP or child health nurse, or see the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA).

Information checked 17 October 2026 against the Australian Macadamia Society, the National Recovery Plan for Macadamia Species (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water), and ACCC country of origin guidance. General information only, not health advice.

— the Blueberry Bear Team