1st March 2025

 We can’t wait for the first Alfonso mangoes. This a big one! We buy them straight from the importer, almost straight off the tarmac. Sometimes you can still feel the heat in the fruit and the smell is simply magical.

For asparagus, we can offer white from the Loire Valley in France. The first UK green is from the Chinn family in the Wye Valley. This is forced with extra heat.

For French green, we are thrilled to offer TOP quality green asparagus from double Michelin Star chef Jerome Gailes. Jerome left the kitchen to turn his hand to growing asparagus on his family farm in Provence. This product has not been seen in the UK since before Brexit and is the flavour is off the scale. A Le Marché exclusive! (We can still source Pertuis, too, if you are keen for that marque). Note that purple asparagus will start in mid-March.

Forced Yorkshire rhubarb is full season - not always easy to source the larger grades.

We’re starting to get the first peas and broad beans from Italy and Spain. Tried our snow peas from Barcelona? These are truly special.

Wild garlic leaf is now available in greater volumes.

The first Jersey Royals should be here in the next couple of weeks - grown under glass for an early crop. It will start with the ware and mids grades, followed by the chats. The French equivalent are called Le Pompadour, grown on Nourmouttier island.

On the citrus front, most of the niche lines are done and dusted for this year. But blood oranges (including Tarocco Fire) and lemons are still going strong. Our lemons include leafy Amalfi and red lemons. Cara Cara is still available but will be finishing soon.

Strawberries include the Gariguette and wild strawberries from near Malaga in Spain.

We recommend red-flesh Lovita plums, French green kiwi.

European pear season is now over. It will be Southern Hemisphere next - South Africa / Chile - but we recommend coming away from pears for now.

If feels very early, but good quality tomatoes from Provence in France will arrive this month. Winter varieties also available such Marinda.

French courgettes - including yellow and green round - are also just starting. And the Romaneso variety from Italy. Plus beautiful Tromboncino and courgette flowers from Holland.

Artichokes include Thema and Spiky from Italy, bunched baby and Spanish Calico.

For radicchios, pink radicchio has finished and the other bitter leaves will finish around mid-Month. Also French chicory, artichokes, agretti and puntarelle. Purple sprouting is difficult due to erratic weather.

Hispi cabbage are from Portugal - we are working the large grade.

For mushrooms. the quality of Chinese Morels is good but these are cultivated rather than wild. Weather permitting, the first Turkish wild morels are expected by the end of the month or the beginning of April. Grey and yellow chanterelle - currently from Portugal. Also Ceps from South Africa.