Market Report - UK seasonal update 17 November 2014

This week's market report from Wild Harvest features kaki, chervil root and coloured kale as well as a whole host of other fruit and vegetables currently in season which you can see below:

Winter truffles are now being picked but are not ripe.

This bodes well for a neat handover from their autumn cousins, which are now proving harder to find and prices are likely to go up.

The 2014 white truffle season is proving a joy to navigate, with stable prices and consistently excellent quality. Now is the time to get involved before supply or demand tamper with the winning formula.

With European cep now receding, South Africa comes into it’s own.

Hefty quantities secured for next week, but still not as much as I’d like.

Book early to avoid disappointment.

Portugal is propping up the European girolle season (secured for Monday) but it’s a matter of days before the switch is made fully to the US crop.

Trompette, Chanterelle (grey and yellow legged) and pied de mouton are the real value for money shrooms to buy next week as Europe remains strong.

Fruits

Kaki (yet another fruit deriving from Japan) has now hit entry level.

Quince are lovely.

We are paying just a little bit more for truly outstanding clementines.

Bergamot oranges continue.

Our forager continues to pick the exotic medlar for flavour packed infusions.

Muscat grapes are still adorable.

Comice pears are that rare thing in a pear; ready to eat and make a delicious mess of your face.

Crab apples continue, as do England’s finest cultivars.

Vegetables

Coloured caulis cling on.

Our baby vegetable range is in great condition, and is yet to face it’s winter streamlining of varieties.

I now view coloured kale in a different light after seeing what this talented chef did with it:- Andy

Our squash range is still making me dizzy with options.

Pungent and ancient roots are in top form and can happily sit on menus until the new year.

It’s time to enjoy a good variety of foraged products before the heavy frosts set in, and we are left with the über hardy sea aster toughing it out alone.

On The Cusp

Eyes peeled for monk’s beard (barba di frate) aka agretti and the cheerful oca tuber.

Ambient Corner

For festive fun we are now stocking classic panettone made from a sourdough ferment.

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.