MARKET REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2023

Christmas favourites include  cranberries and vacuum-packed chestnuts from France. We have some very good holly on the branch with bright red berries. Mistletoe from France. Wild mushrooms for Christmas include French Trompettes, yellow and grey leg Chanterelles and Pied de Mouton from Portugal. 

Citrus includes Yuzu, Sudachi, Kabosu, Hana Yuzu, Meyer Lemon, Cedra Lemon, Bergamots. Amalfi lemons are still a little green. Buddhas Hands are just starting next week but it has not been a great growing season. Finger limes will be short this year. 

From the English side we have the late-season apple varieties such as Braeburn and Coxes from Andrew Bridger in Tunbridge Wells. 

From France, ever tried a Patte de Loup? This is an old russet variety with lovely flavour. The skin is like sandpaper. It tastes like an apple you uses to eat when you were a kid. Pirouette is a bright red and traditional apple in France. Passe Crassane pears will be with us this month. 

Root crops include salsify, parsley and chervil root, Oca and Helianthus. Puntarelle and Cime di Rapa from Italy. 

For specialist potatoes, we have Pink Fir from Morghew in Kent but this year’s crop of Yukon Gold has been poor as the summer was far too wet. 

It’s a good month for artichokes, with all the varieties here at Le Marché HQ.