Written by Tom Moggach
November 10, 2015
It's the colours of citrus fruit that dazzle at this time of year, as their season shifts up into southern Europe.
Fragrant bergamot from Italy (pictured below) joins more familiar fruit such as clementines and satsumas.
Lemons are arriving from Turkey and Spain. As I write, Spanish oranges are yet to hit their stride.
English apples, of course, are a homegrown highlight. Braeburns have joined Spartan (pictured below), Gala, Cox, russet and Bramley. The first Comice pears are on hand, along with the earlier Conference variety.
Soft fruit includes the last English strawberries, redcurrants, blueberries and blackcurrants.
Cranberries are also here, waiting for their starring role at Christmas:
Pomegranates and quinces are a good bet:
Turkish figs won't last beyond the middle of November. English plums are over. Kaki fruit (a.k.a. persimmon; pictured below), custard apples and prickly pears are among the more unusual options:
There's some rhubarb about, mainly Dutch:
I even spotted these medlars - excellent if you're making your own jellies and jams:
For veg, all your classic winter roots and brassicas are on excellent form. How about Chantenay carrots or these Brussel sprouts and their tops, for example?
Or kales such as Cavolo Nero, purple sprouting broccoli and Romanesco cauliflower:
Squashes, of course, offer an amazing variety of shapes, sizes and colours:
English salads will last until around the middle of the month. Watercress remains an excellent option. Spinach and chard are both good choices in these colder months:
Herbs such as curley and flat leaf parsley are looking terrific. Here are some fragrant fennel fronds:
The Italian season for winter veg and salads is now underway, bringing treats such as raddichios, Cime di rapa and Puntarelle:
Autumn is also an excellent time for wild mushrooms, including Trompette, Chanterelle, Pied de Mouton, Cep and Mousseron:
For nuts, you'll find the last of the English cobnuts plus wet walnuts, chestnuts and hazelnuts.
For something unusual, how about exploring some of the lesser-spotted roots. Crosnes (a.k.a. Chinese artichokes) boast a fantastic flavour:
Peruvian produce is increasingly fashionable these days. You can find out more here.
Ingredients such as oca (pictured below) can be sourced through traders such as The French Garden.
See you in December, when the Market will shift up a further gear in the hectic run-up to Christmas.
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