Market Report - UK seasonal update 3 August 2015

The Staff Canteen

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

This week's market report from Wild Harvest features greengages, Scottish girolles, blood peaches as well as a whole host of other fruit and vegetables currently in season which you can see below:

Scottish GirollesWild Mushrooms and Truffles

It’s still all about girolles as you would expect in the summer months. Prices have plummeted and quality is peaking as supply is now coming from the former USSR. For those who lap up a premium UK product we have box fresh Scottish girolles with their unsurpassable bouquet. Eyes are peeled for early autumnal mushrooms, which traditionally pop up in time to serve with the first grouse mid August. Despite warning noises from nervous Italians around record temperatures summer truffles are still in abundance, fine form and are more than fairly priced.

Fruits

Early August is a fantastic time to indulge in fruit. Summer favourites prevail and autumnal treats make early appearances.Blood Peaches One of the above poster boys, the blood peach has just started. I suspect we will be risking Wild Harvest dental bills for a week before we jump into the supply game. My favourite stone fruit’s appearance doesn’t promise much with it’s furry, mould like jacket. Slice into a properly ripe specimen and you are treated to enough colour and intensity of flavour to excite the most jaded fruit fancier. Compared to other stone fruit the season starts late and finishes early (September normally) so indulge yourself fully when ready. Black figs are now passable from Italy and Israel. We are counting the days until the arrival of the mighty Turkish Bursa variety.

Here’s a staccato list of a few other fruits in fine fettle:

  • UK berries
  • Greengage plums
  • Cob nuts
  • Charentais melons
  • Peaches and nectarines galore
  • Apricots
  • Cherries (the switch to the US isn’t far off, so enjoy the low prices while you can)
  • A dizzying number of tomato varieties
Sea Arrow grassVegetables After several years of carrying it, sea arrow grass is more popular than ever this year. Foraged in Scotland it’s form is rather like a robust chive. It’s flavour is unique, but closest to coriander and makes a great partner to fish dishes as do other green plants that live close to the water’s edge. I’m not going to risk snapping attention spans and come over all verbose about how much fun artichokes can be. Instead here’s a succinct list of just some of August’s good stuff from the section of the plant kingdom we commonly tag as vegetables:
  • Fresh coco and borlotti beans
  • Corn on the cob
  • Purple and golden cauliflowers
  • Jersey royal spuds
  • Rainbow chard
  • Broad beans and peas
  • Baby root vegetables
  • A vast range of cresses, edible flowers and salad leaves
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 3rd August 2015

Market Report - UK seasonal update 3 August 2015

IN ASSOCIATION WITH