Market Report - UK Seasonal update 7 January 2014

In association with

Hello Chef and welcome to the first update of the New Year. Those of us lucky enough to be employed in the food business may be feeling a little bruised after the business end of the year. Just a few lines on the seasonal highlights of our mammoth offering. Not that we are supplying mammoths this year as they are proving hard to source. Wild Mushrooms We await a flush of South African cep, which could happen any day or equally not at all this year. Girolles are now coming from Portugal. We have had a hell of a Chanterelle season, and France continues to deliver affordable and nice yellow & grey legged varieties. Pied de mouton are from Portugal and are coming down in price. Small quantities of Trompette from Turkey & the US. Truffles The nose and marbling of Italian & Perigord winter truffles improve as the season gets into full swing. Italian whites are still around, but could end any day soon. Fresh Chinese truffles (Tuber Indicum) are good enough to make a truffle snob sniff twice. Fruits A personal favourite of mine is now in superb shape. The Seville orange. We currently have an organic source from Seville, funnily enough. The season normally lasts throughout January and not much longer. You’d be a fool to ignore marmalade, but this tangy fruit makes a superb sorbet/ice cream or curd tart. Blood oranges have now hit entry level and bloodiness will improve until season close at the end of March. Product is currently a “mixed bag”. Medlars, quince, apples and pears are still strong; as is our broad and exotic citrus offering. If you care to dally with air-freight we have good access to the likes of rambutans,