Written by Tom Moggach
March 29, 2016
With the first English strawberries hitting the market, you might feel that the seasons are topsy-turvy.
But it's modern growing techniques that cunningly stretch the season. Extra early asparagus from the Wye Valley is another fine example. To discover how the top growers do it, see last year's Grower Profile.
Leafy garlic, on the other hand, is picked from the wild. Here's an early British batch.
Wet garlic from Egypt is another highlight for April.
I visited friends in France last month, so popped to wholesale market Rungis for a quick look.
It's always a treat to visit, but the 'flash' (display) below at New Covent Garden Market also does us proud.
On the fruit front, stone fruit is typically from South Africa although this will gradually shift north to countries such as Morocco and Spain. This is the last month for blood oranges. Clementines include late season Nordicotts.
Yorkshire forced rhubarb is winding down. Field-grown crops will soon take the driving seat.
You can still find English apples and pears - mainly Bramley, Braeburn and russets. I spotted cherries from Chile. Mangoes and papayas are often from Brazil and Venezuela. Grapes often hail from South Africa.
For veg, peas and broad beans are Italian.
British brassicas are winding down. Early potatoes include Jersey Royals, Cyprus and Majorcan. Artichokes are looking good.
Agretti (a.k.a. Monks' Beard) and puntarelle from Italy are still with us.
Salad crops such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are shifting to the greenhouses of The Netherlands. Leafy salads are still mainly from the Continent, but the first British crops are inching in. Check out this vast escarole from France.
Herbs are looking good, too.
It's the start of the new spring season for wild mushrooms, with the first flushings of St George and Mousserons joining Morels.
See you in May. As always, feel free to get in touch with any comments and queries. Thanks to everyone who got in touch last month.
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