Written by Tom Moggach
November 01, 2016

What are they gawping at? Two of the wholesalers are in deep discussion - possibly football or perhaps trying to identify a variety of winter squash.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Confering Traders

Harlequin, Acorn, Munchkin, Kobocha, pumpkin... There's an endless choice. But I've no idea what the monster below might be called.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Squash

There's plenty of colour on the Market this November. In the picture below, January King cabbages take centre stage against a background of pumpkins.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 January King Cabbage

Highlights amongst the fruit this month include English apples and pears. For apples, you'll find russets, Cox, Braeburn, Gala, Spartan and Bramley. Star of the pears is the Comice.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Bramley Apples

This is citrus time, with all sorts of interesting fruit rolling in from Spain and Italy. Clementines are the bestseller.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Clementines

But there are also the more unusual lines, such as these Cedro from Italy, which are known for their thick pith – often candied or used in drinks. Bergamots - the on-trend ctirus this year - will be along soon too.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Cedro

For a taste of Christmas, there are chestnuts and cranberries, such as these jumbo fruits from Belarus.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Cranberries

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Chestnuts

On the exotic front, my tips are pomegranates, kaki fruit and even cherimoya (second picture below).

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Pomegranates

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Cherimoya

It's not a great time for berries. Strawberries are hit and miss. Blackberries and blueberries have travelled far – typically from countries such as Mexico or Argentina.

All the roots and winter veg are a good call, such as bunched carrots, beets, swede, leeks and onions. You'll also find some of the last of the English runner beans if you act fast.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Carrots

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Runner Beans

Brassicas include kale, cauliflower, Romanesco, broccoli, purple sprouting, cabbages (Savoy; Hispi; spring greens), Brussel sprouts and their tops.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Purple Sprouting

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Savoy Cabbage

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Brussel Tops

English tomatoes and salads are all but over. Here's some of the last harvests from top grower Nutbourne Nurseries. (See our Grower Profile here).

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report November 2016 Tomatoes

From the Continent, expect yellow and purple cauliflower, breakfast radish, round courgettes, chard, artichokes, salsify, fennel, celeriac, aubergines and crosnes (a.k.a. Chinese artichokes).