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.
Harlequin, Acorn, Munchkin, Kobocha, pumpkin... There's an endless choice. But I've no idea what the monster below might be called.
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.
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.
This is citrus time, with all sorts of interesting fruit rolling in from Spain and Italy. Clementines are the bestseller.
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.
For a taste of Christmas, there are chestnuts and cranberries, such as these jumbo fruits from Belarus.
On the exotic front, my tips are pomegranates, kaki fruit and even cherimoya (second picture below).
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.
Brassicas include kale, cauliflower, Romanesco, broccoli, purple sprouting, cabbages (Savoy; Hispi; spring greens), Brussel sprouts and their 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).
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).
How about these, too – serpents squashes from Sicily?
This is a fine time for the bitter leaves from the chicory family, such as puntarelle and radicchio.
Wild mushrooms include cep, pied de mouton and chanterelle.
I'll leave you with an image of a man on a mission – a buyer with his neat pallet of produce, checking off his morning orders.
See you in December and feel free to get in touch with any comments or queries.
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