Written by Tom Moggach
December 06, 2016

This month, of course, is extra festive. After my trip to the Market, I dragged home a vast bunch of holly and a 6ft Christmas tree.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Holly

But not everyone was in such high spirits. The poor soul in the articulated lorry below was dragged away by this beast of a tow truck.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Recovery Truck

December is always a lovely time on Buyers’ Walk. There’s plenty of colour from citrus fruit such as leafy clementines, lemons and bergamots.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Clementines

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Bergamot

Pomegranates, kaki fruit, lychees and kumquats are also on top form.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Pomegranates

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Kumquats Lychees

It’s the beginning of the South African season for grapes and stone fruit such as peaches. No apricots yet at time of writing.

Less exotic – but still eating well – are English apples and pears. You’ll find Braeburn, russets, Cox, Bramley and Comice.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Comice Pear

I was struck this year by the dazzling diversity of chilli varieties available – from red birds eye to green jalapenos, with many other types in between.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Chillies

Fresh walnuts are fizzling out but there's plenty of dried nuts, including chestnuts.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Chestnuts

Veg includes all the brassicas such as cabbages, kales, broccoli, purple sprouting, sprouts (green and purple) and their tops. Savoy and Hispi deserve a special mention.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Savoy Cabbage

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Sprout Tops

Leeks, carrots, beets and onions are all solid. British Jerusalem artichokes are a good call. Continental specialties include baby veg, celeriac, Borlotti beans, artichokes, Muscat grapes, round and straight courgettes, squashes, aubergines, black and red heart radish and much more. It’s last call for the Italian tomatoes – the Moroccan season is now underway.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Baby Beetroots

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Spring Onions

Salad lines are now from the South of Europe, such as these salads and crunchy breakfast radishes.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Salads

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report December 2016 Radishes

From Italy, expect all the plants from the chicory family - radicchios, puntarelle and more. I've become a bit obsessed by these plants and will give them a special mention in a Product Profile very soon.

Mushrooms, too, are on good form. I’ve never seen such monster Pied Bleu as these, plus some lovely Cep below...