Written by Tom Moggach
June 06, 2017

What’s in the suitcase? A chef’s haul of ingredients for their pop-up supper club.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Suitcase Ingredients

Mina Park and Emily Baylis are collaborating on a special Korean feast.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Korean Pop Up

"I’m trying to use British ingredients for a Korean braised short rib," says chef Park. "We’re using mostly foraged produce, herbs and flowers."

There’s abundant colour on the market this June. Asparagus is on its final lap, with the season due to end a touch earlier than its usual end date of the summer solstice, 21st June.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Asparagus Spears

"It’s been a good year - way up on last year," says Simon Collier-Ward of Side Salads, who sold 1,170 kilos of the stuff the day before.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Asparagus

Other British highlights include heritage tomatoes, strawberries, salads, peas and broad beans.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Peas

Garlic scapes are also hot to trot. These are the young shoots of garlic cut prior to harvesting the bulbs. You can find out more from my trip to the South West Garlic Farm last year.

Other homegrown staples include fresh herbs such as parsley, mint, dill and this coriander, which are now abundant. Elderflower is top of the forager’s shopping list.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Coriander

Cauliflowers, new potatoes, baby veg, spinach, Savoy cabbage and spring greens are among other English-grown highlights.

Stone fruit from Spain, France and Italy is a bestseller. French apricots are top notch. The first flat peaches are now on hand. Plums are slowly improving. Ripe cherries are here in force.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Apricots Cherries

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Peaches

Melons are also in their prime - Galia, Canteloupe, Charentais, watermelons and more.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Melons

On the more exotic front, mangoes, figs and papaya are here from countries such as Venezuela and Brazil.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Mangoes

From the Continent, expect fennel, peppers, purple and white cauliflowers, yellow wax beans and multi-coloured carrots.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Carrots

Agretti is in its last weeks. Aubergines are another good call, including stripey and this rare skinny Perlina variety.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Stripey Aubergines

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Perlina Aubergines

Check out the spines on these artichokes, a variety called 'Spinosa di Alberga'.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Spiny Artichokes

Fuzzy fresh almonds have just arrived.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Fresh Almonds

Rose garlic and tromba squashes are other striking imports.

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Rose Garlic

Fruit And Vegetable Market Report June 2017 Tromba Courgettes

Over on Gilgrove, you might find these most unusual berries from Holland, including new “Peach” and “Bubble Gum” varieties. Pricey but definitely with the WOW Factor.