Written by Tom Moggach
July 09, 2015

There's plenty of perks from these bright summer mornings on the Market – not least the opportunity for a spot of football practice.

On Saturday 11th, various teams assembled from firms based here are competing in a charity competition. Looks like P&I are in with a fighting chance!

There are plenty of winners on Buyers' Walk, too. Terrific cherries are flooding in from Spain, Turkey and France. British growers are reporting a good harvest, too – so make the effort to sample their extra-fresh homegrown fruit:

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 Cherries

Soft fruit is also abundant. Expect gooseberries, white currants, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries – often British at this time of year:

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 Red Gooseberries

Spain is sending top fruit such as the ever-popular flat peaches and nectarines:

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 Flat Nectarines

Other treats include white peaches and excellent apricots.

Melons on offer in July include watermelons, cantaloupe, honeydew and galia:

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 Melons

Italian figs and Brazilian mangoes are also good bets. Note that grapes are tight at this time of year, in the gap before European supplies gather momentum:

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 Grapes

On the veg side, British runner beans, peas and broad beans are all on hand:

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 Runner Beans

For a posher bean, note that suppliers such as French Garden and European Salad Companyare stocking Continental specialties such as borlotti and coco beans:

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 White Beans

Tomatoes are plentiful. British brassicas include kale, broccoli, cabbage and kohl rabi. Courgettes and their flowers are also on hand. English purple sprouting and asparagus are out of season.

"It's soft and salad," is how grocer Darren Cox describes his bestsellers this month. (See our Customer Profile from 2013 on his thriving business).

Salads and herbs are certainly looking lush:

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 Lettuce

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 Basil

Other treats include these gorgeous, colourful baby onions:

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 Onions

Artichokes – both globe and petit violet – are on good form. Here is Tim from European Salad Company with his range of top-notch Continental produce:

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report July 2015 European Salad Company

For mushrooms, trompettes have just started up. Cep and girolle both available, Mousseron are over. Check out these rarities called Amanita Caesarea from Romania over at Mushroom Man: