Market Report - UK Seasonal update 02 July 2013

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We have reached Julius Caesar’s month in good shape.
Even though Ra has not blessed us with his golden rays in the UK yet this year, it’s time to start eating raw food and polish off the sunglasses before autumn comes a knocking.

Wild Mushrooms

Mini girolles are now coming from Belarus, and the prices have dropped again.

We are checking out an early flush of trompette from Romania from Monday.

Mousseron are still solid from Bulgaria.

The price drop on girolles has translated into a cost slashing for our wild & cultivated mixed mushrooms.

I have just got off the phone to the Scottish Highlands and girolles are now showing. The 1st commercial quantities are due for the second week of July like most years. A true highlight of the wild mushroom calendar.

Truffles

Price at season low, and quality at season high for Italian summer truffles.

Fruits

A whole heap of fun to be had in this category right now.

• Both red (Holland) & green (UK) gooseberries have now started. The French call these bad boys groseille à maquereau. The pairing with mackerel is so essential in their view, that they worked it into the name.


• Cherries are excellent and we are working the Spanish crop until Turkey kicks off.


• Flat, white & yellow peaches.


• Yellow fleshed nectarines.


• Sun kissed apricots.


• Blood peaches & nectarines are due to appear at the start of August.


• Genuine Charentais melons.


• Pineberries aka white strawberries have made a reappearance from Holland.


• Strawberries from Somerset keep getting better.


• We are expanding our already extensive tomato range, with new additions planned for Tuesday. Pineapple, Green zebra, Noir di crimee & Datterino (San Marzano without the price tag) baby plums from Italy.


• Elderflower is in steady supply.

• Heritage beet in both their adult and baby form take a summer vacation for six weeks or so.


• Wild asparagus growth is winding down.


• Supply of multi-coloured radishes strengthens. Demand normally massively outstrips supply on these little beauties.


• Rainbow chard is growing well.


• Fresh AOC coco beans have now started for light summery broths. Supply still patchy and prices high.


• Borlotti beans are outstanding this year.


• English asparagus & Jersey Royal spuds continue. Indulge while you still can.


• Fresh peas are now English and lovely.


• Courgette flowers are largely English and fresh as a daisy.


• UK sweetcorn has been spotted but in bad shape. We hope for a mid week cob-fest.


• As with the tomatoes above, it’s time to get raw. To supplement our mile long, year round leaf offering which includes the likes of Italian rocket, metisse, authentic Provencal mesclun mixes and frisee, we are dragging the following across the channel for Tuesday: bulls blood, pourpier aka purslane, ficoide also known as the succulent & sparkly ice plant. All in traditional wooden 1kg boxes without the salad-stifling heat- sealed plastic bag.  Purslane is also loaded with Vit C.