It's a relief when the seasons behave. This month, it feels like spring has just about arrived on time.
Wild garlic is one of the first foraged ingredients to hit the Market, although I've not been quick enough to spot these very early batches.
Jersey Royals are another frontrunner, although these initial deliveries - mostly mids and ware sizes - are grown with the protection of a greenhouse. As a result, they're not cheap, either, although prices will steadily drop:
Blood oranges are in their prime. I drove home with a bumper box of Tarocco, a sweeter variety, from H G Walker. Moro, the redder orange, are also plentiful.
I also couldn't resist a pic of the batch below at The French Garden, although I believe these are not grown in Sicily, this fruit's spiritual home:
At this time of year, many other fruits are from South Africa. This includes plums, grapes, and black figs:
Yorkshire forced rhubarb is still going strong, too. See our recent Product Profile for the inside scoop on how this product is grown:
Citrus remains strong, with leafy clems, nardacotts and lemons available. Spain is a main sender:
As you might spot from displays on the market, English apples and pears are still a good shout. Main varieties are Braeburn, russets, Cox, Bramley, Comice and Conference.
Cherries are Chilean. Mangoes and papayas hail from Brazil. Pomegranates often from Iran. Strawberries and raspberries are both typically Spanish.
On the veg front, homegrown roots and brassicas are an excellent buy. Chantenay carrots and Piccolo parsnips remain popular choices.
As I write, note that prices of broccoli and cauliflowers have both leveled out - so no worries there. January King cabbage is a colourful choice:
Note that purple sprouting is somewhat erratic - cold nights slow the growth of this plant right down:
Aside from Jersey Royals, there's a huge range of other spuds to take your fancy:
Jerusalem artichokes are another British crop worth considering. Petit Violet and Globe artichokes from the Continent are also on good form.
These pak choi below are also grown in this country - another exotic product, just like kohl rabi, that British growers have learnt to master:
For other lines, note that fennel is on fine form. Radicchios, also from Italy, are a fabulously diverse group of plants and look great on a plate.
These specimens are from Covent Garden Supply:
Cime di rapa and puntarelle are both still in season, too:
As for herbs, basil has suffered from snow in Israel, so was short for a while. Normal service will have hopefully resumed by the time you hit the market.
For an intriguing specialty, check out these blanched beauties at European Salad Company:
The larger specimen is blanched dandelion, which the smaller is marketed as friseline, apparently a cross between chicory and frisée? Feel free to get in touch and correct me if I'm wide of the mark.
Another interesting line from the same supplier are sweet friggiarelli (a.k.a. friarelli / friarell) peppers from Italy, often simply fried in olive oil with a sprinkle of salt, just like Padron peppers.
See you next month, when the growing season will have shifted up a gear.
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