Market Report - UK seasonal update 15 February 2016

The Staff Canteen

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

This week's market report from Wild Harvest features Gariguette strawberries, Jersey Royal potatoes and wild garlic (aka ransoms) as well as a whole host of other fruit and vegetables currently in season which you can see below: This time of year is all about being spiritually nourished by expectations. Spring is around the corner and the climatic range of Europe, combined with modern farming techniques and a mild winter is already throwing up some faves from the thaw. Eyes are peeled for a steady flow of green English asparagus and fresh Turkish morels. Wild Mushrooms & Truffles Perigord TrufflesThe steadiness of the South African cep season is very pleasing for this delicate shroom. Abundance is keeping price very keen. Trompettes are starting to wobble a little from the USA. Portugal is still producing pied de mouton, chanterelle and girolle. A strong fungal spread for February. Perigord and Italian black winter truffles are excellent. Fruits Gariguette strawberries have popped up in Paris. There’s a Wild Harvest tradition where we buy a box a week for our staff until the sugar levels are acceptable. I’m expecting the first two weeks to generate some funny faces around the office, until acidity makes way for sweetness and we start to offer them to the outisde world. Without further ado it’s time to get succinct, and list just some of the succulent fruits pleasing palates in February:-
  • Clementines
  • Blood oranges
  • Bergamot oranges
  • Passe crassane pears
  • Cox apples
  • Finger limes
  • And a fine range of air freighted exotics if that’s up your culinary cul-de-sac
Vegetables Wild GarlicA mild winter and poly tunnels have delivered the first Jersey royal potatoes. Prices will drop massively when the traditionally grown outdoor crop hits town towards the end of May. Wild garlic (aka ransoms) has started. Supply will be sticky, and prices relatively high until the whole of the UK is carpeted with the stuff in a couple of week’s time. It then represents a flexible and power packed ingredient for very few spondulics. We are getting in early from France and Cornwall. Cornwall enjoys a microclimate brought about by the North Atlantic drift, which allows tropical plants to exist and wild garlic to pop up early. I’m buying 100g to make a pesto, which I’m going to flavour-spike my slow cooked beef brisket with on Sunday. Enough about my Sunday roast, here are just some other roots and shoots doing well right now:-
  • Yorkshire triangle forced rhubarb
  • Multicoloured carrots and beets
  • Jerusalem artichokes
  • Monk’s beard
  • Alexanders foraged in Norfolk
  • Castel franco “paint splashed” chicory
  • And a range of funky radishes
As usual, this is just a small selection of what we have on offer. Call in on 020 7498 5397 to speak to the team about what other treats we have in store for you today. Visit the website here.  
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The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 15th February 2016

Market Report - UK seasonal update 15 February 2016

IN ASSOCIATION WITH