Market Report August 2008
Web Link of the Month – WaterMelons
With August here, and holiday time upon us, for those of you lucky enough to get away, have a good time!
In my opinion this is the best month for English produce, weather permitting, there are some good deals to be had. Just some of the English produce around Courgette, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Beetroot, Khol Rabi, Runner Beans, Broad Beans, Peas, Spinach, Red Chard, Calva Nero and even a little Purple Sprouting Broccoli and, something a little different some English Romanesco. Theses are just a few of the English delights! Also there are some Berlotti and Yellow Beans about and some Pampo de Coco, although expensive. The trouble we were having with Shallots seemed to have eased and supply is coming through from the new season stock. There are some Jerusalem Artichokes available, but they are very expensive at the moment. This will ease as the new season French crop start. There have been some good value Salad produce around; most of this is English at the moment too. Some of the more delicate leaves Rocket, Baby Red Chard and Mustard Leaf etc do tend to struggle in the higher temperatures, but everything in the main is good value and price.
The situation with Wild Mushrooms has also improved. Girolle, Trumpet, Blueit and Pied de Mouton are all available. However Cepes have been difficult to source and are suffering with Maggots! On the whole, some improvement. Button Mush has gone a little short but I am sure this will rectify itself in no time. All this good news is unbelievable! Even the situation with Potatoes has improved. A number of the New Season varieties are coming through including the larger potatoes which has helped the price of the Jacket Potatoes ease.
Soft Fruits have also stabilised in price now, with a better supply of English produce arriving. This month should also see the arrival of English Plums, including Damsons, for those who fancy a bit of jam! Also Mirabelle Plums and Reine Claude (Greengages) are arriving in from France. Peaches both White and Yellow flesh along with Nectarines are all in ample supply. However Apricots and Cherries will slow down as the month progresses. There are some lovely European Melons about, Cherantais and Water are exceptional. Citrus prices are still quite firm. Lemons are not as cheap as we’d like to see for this time of year. Don’t Forget…25th Bank holiday Did you know…The Greengage ('Reine Claude') is an edible drupaceous fruit, a cultivar of the plum. Sources attribute the origin of the name "Greengage" variably to several members of the Gage family. One account states that the cultivar was brought into England by the Rev. John Gage who obtained them from the Chartreuse Monastery. "Green Gages" were imported into England from France in 1724 by Sir William Gage, 2nd Baronet, from whom they get their English name. Allegedly, the labels identifying the French plum trees were lost in transit to Gage's home in Bury St. Edmunds and so the name stuck. Happy Cooking!