Market Report - 1st February 2025

Wild garlic starts this month. Not seen it yet but our foragers are taking orders.

Fantastic Yorkshire rhubarb this month. We are sourcing from Janet Oldroyd, a fifth-generation grower. She produces around 1,000 tons per year.

Top quality early white Asparagus from the Loire Valley in France. This is grown in ridges of deep, sandy soil. The very earliest crops are gently heated using a system of pipes filled with hot water - this mimics the arrival of spring as it raises the soil temperature.

Off-the-scale citrus. Blood orange varieties include Black Moro, Tarocco Fire and Sanguinelli. Lots of specialist lines from Agrumes Baches in the Pyrenees such as the ‘Limonimedica’. It’s peak season there and the quality of the fruit is on a completely different level to everything else.

Also the wonderful Citron de Nice, sourced via Rungis. We also recommend the Mandarin de Ess. Seville oranges are almost over.

Gariguette strawberries have started from France. Later this month, we will be sourcing white wild strawberries from Malaga. It is also peak Japanese strawberry season in Japan - we bring in an exclusive range of Japanese premium fruit. Ask Marcus for the full list.

Ever tried a cherry plum? Tiny - just 3-4cm - and delicious!

All the Italian bitter leaves are beautiful now. Castelfranco now has the colour we want and red chicory from France is outrageous – another level. This is the beautiful ‘Carmine’ variety.

Calçots have a short season and is very good at the moment.

French-grown curry leaves have been a lovely surprise - very aromatic.

French kiwi fruits are highly recommended.

Agretti and wet / new garlic are in season.

Lovely cultivated Morels from China. (Wild Turkish will be along in Spring). Yellow and grey chanterelle should be finishing around the end of the month.

Wild and foraged produce includes Alexander leaf, chervil, black mustard and sea purslane. Wild garlic is just starting.

A quick word of warning about peppers. Spanish growers are being affected by Pepper mild mottle virus which reduces the volume of the crop. So Spanish peppers will remain expensive until the Dutch crop begins.

Lines that are finishing include red Pear William. Sweet Sensation is a good substitute.

Other products that are reaching the end of their season are Chocolate Orange, fresh chestnuts and persimmons / kaki fruit.

Vassout apples and pears will also finish in the middle of the month - enjoy them while you can!