Seasonality

January

New Year is the time to dig out the preserving pan and rustle up some marmalade. January is the best time to buy Seville oranges, these unique oranges have bitter pith and skin and have an intense sour-tasting juice. Apart from making marmalade, the pith and skin can also be candied, while the skin alone can be used to flavour cakes, puddings and sauces. The juice is also used in marinades, vinaigrettes, sauces and curds. These oranges only appear for a few weeks of the year so be sure to freeze some for later in the year.
January marks the start of the Yorkshire Rhubarb season. This unique product is traditionally grown in the Rhubarb Triangle ( Wakefield, Bradford & Leeds ). It’s long thin pink stalks are not to be confused with thicker woody outdoor variety. The plant crowns are lifted and placed in dark heated sheds where they grow totally without light. Ready for harvest in January they are tender and succulent. Rhubarb is incredibly versatile with many culinary uses; try it in cakes and desserts, pastries, jams, pickles, conserves, sauces and, of course, wine.
In stark contrast to the dark gloomy days of January are the lush vibrant fruits from South Africa. Packaged under the well-known “Cape” brand are such delights as ; La Rochelle and Alphonse Lavelle black grapes and Ruby Nell and Lady Red plums.
In Israel, the strawberry production will be in full swing in January. These are super sweet and relatively inexpensive. Ironically these fruits are actually grown by the Palestinians in Gaza but are marketed by the Israelis.
For all those people suffering from the excesses of the festive period relief is at hand in the form of Cyprus Grapefruit – They are at their best in January and this “superfood” is considered to aid digestion and help burn excess fat!! For those of you still in need of a few extra carbohydrates, Cyprus “Spunta” potatoes are in season and are characterised by the their flaky skin and distinctive rust coloured soil.
Closer to home, our locally produced vegetables tend to suffer at this time of year – two products that do thrive are Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Cavolo Nero. Although very old varieties these veg are fairly new to the UK. They are extremely flavoursome and are a point of interest on any menu.
A Date to remember this month is Burns night on January 25th – don’t forget to order in your neeps and tatties ( Swedes and Potatoes for those of us south of the border !)
Also in season: -
Blood Oranges
Leafy Clementines
Brittany Cauliflower

Date Uploaded: 23/05/2012

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Feb/March

Spring in the air ! As we move from March to April Spring typically brings a time of transition for fresh produce i.e. the end of one season and the beginning of a new one.
The last of the Spanish Onions will be arriving in these months to be replaced with product from the other side of the world namely: Chile, Tasmania and New Zealand Obviously with the distances involved prices will increase slightly.
English carrots will be coming to an end in this month to be replaced with the French Carrots from the Nantes region in North West France. These are a slightly thinner carrot than the English and as they are new season they must be kept in refrigeration or they will turn black and become bendy as if made from rubber. The upside though is the flavour is extremely sweet and intense.
Again Spring denotes the end of the Spanish salads and the start of the English – keep a look out for English cucumbers this month and if we have a few sunny days expect to see the first Blackpool tomatoes
With light levels increasing, greenhouse gown Rocket ( a.k.a Roquette ) is at its best. Be careful to distinguish between the bigger leaf Salad Rocket and its cousin the smaller spiky Wild Rocket that has a more intense peppery flavour.
Asparagus was one of the huge success stories of last year with the product enjoying record sales. We expect this year to be even better and April typically denotes the start of the main crop season from Spain. This is a very fresh product and prices are usually quite reasonable.
Even the humble Spring Onion ( a.k.a Scallion ) is due for a change this month. Throughout the winter months this product has been flown in from Mexico on daily flights but the onset of Spring means English grown product is now back on the menu.
This is a mixed time of year for berries, Strawberries will be bursting with flavour as we start the first of the greenhouse crop from Holland but be wary of red currants as it’s the end of the season for this fruit and prices can be astronomical. Raspberries and blueberries will be far cheaper alternatives.
This is typically a very difficult month for locally grown Savoy and Tundra cabbages but the new season spring cabbage is the one to buy this month as it’s young, succulent and tender. Purple Sprouting broccoli is also one of the few vegetables that characterise April and its becoming a bit of a gourmet vegetable. This is not to be confused with the larger green heads of “calabrese” that many supermarkets sell as broccoli.
Key dates to look out for this year are Mothering Sunday ( 26th March 06 ) and Easter Weekend (Good Friday 14th April 06 )

Date Uploaded: 22/05/2012

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April

Spring in the air ! As we move from March to April Spring typically brings a time of transition for fresh produce i.e. the end of one season and the beginning of a new one.
The last of the Spanish Onions will be arriving in these months to be replaced with product from the other side of the world namely: Chile, Tasmania and New Zealand Obviously with the distances involved prices will increase slightly.
English carrots will be coming to an end in this month to be replaced with the French Carrots from the Nantes region in North West France. These are a slightly thinner carrot than the English and as they are new season they must be kept in refrigeration or they will turn black and become bendy as if made from rubber. The upside though is the flavour is extremely sweet and intense.
Again Spring denotes the end of the Spanish salads and the start of the English – keep a look out for English cucumbers this month and if we have a few sunny days expect to see the first Blackpool tomatoes
With light levels increasing, greenhouse gown Rocket ( a.k.a Roquette ) is at its best. Be careful to distinguish between the bigger leaf Salad Rocket and its cousin the smaller spiky Wild Rocket that has a more intense peppery flavour.
Asparagus was one of the huge success stories of last year with the product enjoying record sales. We expect this year to be even better and April typically denotes the start of the main crop season from Spain. This is a very fresh product and prices are usually quite reasonable.
Even the humble Spring Onion ( a.k.a Scallion ) is due for a change this month. Throughout the winter months this product has been flown in from Mexico on daily flights but the onset of Spring means English grown product is now back on the menu.
This is a mixed time of year for berries, Strawberries will be bursting with flavour as we start the first of the greenhouse crop from Holland but be wary of red currants as it’s the end of the season for this fruit and prices can be astronomical. Raspberries and blueberries will be far cheaper alternatives.
This is typically a very difficult month for locally grown Savoy and Tundra cabbages but the new season spring cabbage is the one to buy this month as it’s young, succulent and tender. Purple Sprouting broccoli is also one of the few vegetables that characterise April and its becoming a bit of a gourmet vegetable. This is not to be confused with the larger green heads of “calabrese” that many supermarkets sell as broccoli.
Key dates to look out for this year are Mothering Sunday ( 26th March 06 ) and Easter Weekend (Good Friday 14th April 06 )

Date Uploaded: 20/05/2012

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May

Asparagus
May typically denotes the start of the main English asparagus season. This fresher, more delicate product has a far superior flavour to the Spanish – keep an eye out for the Formby Asparagus in particular, traditionally grown at Formby Point near Liverpool this product ticks all the boxes for provenance and flavour.

New Potatoes
May usually means that Jersey Royal Potatoes become affordable as the main crop is harvested. This is all still done by hand and the ploughs are still winched up the steep south facing slopes ( known as cotils – pronounced cotee’s ).This little kidney shaped potato has splendid flavour and has long since been neglected by the catering trade. There will also be lovely flakey skin new potatoes from both Cornwall and Pembrokeshire.
As the days lengthen and the soil temperatures rise the first of the Lancashire new potatoes appear. The very first are from a small pocket of sandy soil near Mere Brow in Tarleton.

Lettuce
A whole range of different locally grown lettuce spring forward in May and include Crisp, Flat, Iceberg, Romaine and Little Gem. Romaine is becoming very popular and resembles a baby Cos lettuce for those of you who haven’t seen it yet – it is ideally suited to the classic Caesar Salad.
Mr. Midgely will also start with his lollo rosso and oak leaf and the endive which tends to be coarser than the French fine frisee ( don't worry we will have both )

Vegetables
Unfortunately this is not a memorable month for vegetables as many English crops finally disappear. English Parsnips and Swedes will be very scarce and the first of the French “flat” purple top turnips will make their appearance. However, Spring cabbage and Primo (or drumhead cabbage) will abound and will be inexpensive. Cauliflowers tend to be scarce this month and rather pricey so be careful there. Towards the end of May we should start to see the first early English broad beans. Frying potatoes will be scarce and pricy I'm afraid.

Fruit
Still very early for most “stone” fruit varieties but there is light at the end of the tunnel as we see the first Spanish Cherries towards the middle of May. These will be closely followed by apricots, red beaut plums, peach and nectarines from the Spanish mainland. This is also the month that the first of the Golden Kiwi arrives from New Zealand – this product is far sweeter than the green variety and is rapidly gaining popularity. This is also the right time of year for the highly scented Alphonso Mangos from India. These are small and kidney shaped and highly sought after. Although messy to eat the flesh is so sweet that they can’t be resisted.
Strawberries from the UK will readily available with fruit from both Kent and Herefordshire. Blackpool raspberries too and the fabulous big juicy raspberries from Kent.
A difficult time for citrus as the last of the Spanish and Moroccan fruit switches over to South African.
Grapes also difficult as the Chilean finish and Indian fill the gap before the Israeli fruit starts.
We may see the first gooseberries from Cheshire too if the weather keeps fine.
Spain comes on line with new season melons too so expect to see beautiful honeydew along with piel de sapo and galia - all at good prices

Salads
English tomatoes, and in particular, our Blackpool fruit with their thin skins and delicate flavour are a welcome change to the Spanish and Canary crops – these are nice enjoyed with some fresh local watercress and local bunched radish which are at their best in the month of May. Watercress is indeed a true superfood and is very versatile, it’s excellent in savoury butters, sandwiches and soups and grown here at Great Eccleston.


Date Uploaded: 17/05/2012

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June / July

Fruit

The English Summer season starts with the first arrivals of Gooseberries from Cheshire. This strange fruit has seen an increase in popularity over the last few years and increasingly Chefs are turning to this fruit for its mixture of acidity and sweetness.
The warm summer days (hopefully) will mean that English soft fruit is in abundance so don’t forget to ask for Strawberries ( from Kent and Scotland ) Raspberries (from Kent, Cheshire and Scotland ) Blackcurrants and Blackberries ( from Kent and Cheshire )
At this time of year Spain is in full production and the intensity of the summer sun is evident in the succulence of the fruit. The extra sweet Honeydew melons from Alicante are superb served with finely sliced prosciutto, why not try mixing them with Galia and Piel de Sapo melons or the perfumed orange flesh Cantaloupe and Charantais varieties. Peaches and Nectarines will be plentiful this year and prices should be realistic despite early fears of repeated frost damage. Keep a look out for “Flat” Peaches and “Flat” Nectarines, these are slightly more expensive but they are exceptionally sweet. We may also see a small parcel of apricot from Spain or France too if temperatures start to pick up and one of my favourite plums from Spain, the Santa Rosa.
Cherries will be in full swing with the new arrivals from both America and Spain – These will be the usual Bing variety.
It's a good month to buy the famous gold kiwi from New Zealand but prices will be high this year due to a shortage of fruit.


Vegetables

For vegetables why not take advantage of the fantastic variety of beans available at this time of year ranging from the good old fashioned Broad bean to the Runner (or Stick ) bean. Stringless Bobby beans from Worcester look divine and Chefs prone to nibbling will find then hard to resist ! English pod peas from Yorkshire will be plentiful and sweet and should be eaten as soon as possible.
Depending on the weather we may see some local Marsh Samphire towards the end of the month. This is an edible marsh grass that is gathered from the Banks and Southport mud flats. It’s wonderful lightly cooked, pickled and eaten in salads or served hot with fish.
Carrots will all be imported from France and Spain so not too cheap but very flavoursome.
Italian bulb fennel will change from imported to local, and Lancashire new potatoes will be at the their very best. Potatoes for frying that hold their golden colour will be very difficult to find and very expensive.
Celeriac not at its best this month as we finish with the old season imported product and shallots will be out of cold store and certainly not the best.
English chantenay carrots will finish and will be replaced by product from Israel, and the trusty swede will start looking tired and good quality out of Scotland may be difficult to find. Parsnips too will be tired and we should be looking for Imported Spanish product to fill the gap.

Citrus

A challenging time of year for oranges and grapefruit as we rely heavily on South African fruit. Some Argentinean lemons may be about and hopefully Peru will have those lovely satsumas like they did last year.


Date Uploaded: 15/05/2012

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August

It was traditionally believed that August was “Bean-time” and that “Bean-time meant lean-time” This was a reference to the fact that at this time of year all the gardens were full of home produced fruits and vegetables and trade for greengrocers suffered as a consequence. This may no longer be the case there will still be a surplus of wonderful beans to be had ranging from Runner (A.K.A. Stick Beans ) Bobby and Broad beans. Marrows too will be plentiful and very inexpensive and are delicious stuffed with mincemeat in a herby tomato sauce. This is also the time for Sweetcorn in the husk – this product has enjoyed huge sales growth recently due to the increase in BBQ’s
This is the time of year for delicious English plums – all are tree ripened and have a sumptuous soft sugary pulp and tangy skins – varieties to look out for are :- Opals, Bells and of course the infamous Victoria. Towards the end of the month Greengages from France will start to arrive – these make fantastic desserts and preserves.
The first of the new season English Apples will arrive this month from Kent – Early varieties include Discovery and Worcester Permian. These have a refreshing sharp taste and should be eaten as soon as purchased – they are not a keeping apple though and you have to wait another month for Cox Orange Pippin for storing.
August is the month for Damsons – the season starts with Kent varieties in early August and finish with our own Lythe Valley varieties in early September. A firm favourite for desserts, jams and chutneys.
Last year the Polish Billberry season was completely wiped out by the extreme temperatures experienced in Poland – this product is harvested wild from the vast expanse of woodland areas and last year the government made them “no-go” areas due to the high risk of forest fires. Hopefully this year will be more “fruitful” and August is the month to look out for this product.
Cobnuts denote August! – This is a type of hazelnut that is typically grown in Kent. Cobnuts are picked when they are young and juicy and are best eaten raw in salads or as a snack – They contrast greatly from the dried nuts in that their flesh is crisper and has a milky taste.
Also available this month :-
Early Bramley apples
Romanesque ( Green Cauliflowers )
Pickling Walnuts
William Pears
Golden Beetroot
Lychees
Black Fresh Figs
Tangerines

Date Uploaded: 14/05/2012

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September

September is a very diverse month and very typically enjoys summery conditions at the beginning and cooler autumnal weather towards the end, the produce available during this month very much reflects this. All the many varieties of salad leaves benefit from the cooler temperatures at this time of year and are luscious and abundant, why not try with the sweet red and yellow peppers that are also at their best.
Tomatoes and cucumbers will be finishing from the English growers and supplies from Spain will still be very light so expect to see a rise in price of these products this month.
September means the first of the English red onions, these are sweet and juicy and are wonderful eaten raw, mixed in tomato and cucumber salads, salsas etc.
September is paradise for Fig lovers. Superb samples of black figs from Turkey will arrive this month. These are always very cheap and their sweet delicious pulp makes them ideal for many culinary uses. They can be eaten on their own or in salads, with cheese and proscuitto. Alternatively they can be baked or grilled with lemon juice, rose water, honey or sugar, a very versatile fruit indeed.
Readers of a certain age will remember receiving Pomegranates in their Christmas stockings as a child. Pomegranates from Spain now start in September and are usually finished long before Christmas – The season has “shunted” forward and provides anecdotal evidence for climate change, if evidence were needed.
On a more Autumnal note, the end of the month will see lovely samples of English Swedes, Parsnips and Turnips. Curly Kale is also available now and its popularity is increasing year on year due to increased TV coverage.
Chanterelle mushrooms are a good indicator that autumn is approaching. These grow wild in the woods from late summer until late autumn. These mushrooms have a distinctive peppery flavour that softens when cooked. They are so versatile that they can enhance most dishes from the humble scrambled eggs to the finest dining.
Also available this month:
Jerusalem Artichokes
Celeriac
Cavolo Nero
Fennel
Marjorie Seedling Plums
Purple Cauliflowers
Brussel Sprouts
Pickling Onions
Cox Orange Pippin Apples

Date Uploaded: 13/05/2012

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October/November

October is a truly splendid autumnal month and a delight to see the spectacular show of colours as the trees prepare to shed their leaves. Memorable dates to look out for this month are, Halloween on the 31st October, the clocks going forward on the 29th October and don’t forget half term which is usually around the second and third week depending on the location of the school.
Last year the first UK grown Brussels Sprouts were available in August due to an early variety of seed, however, October marks the start when this product is truly at its best. The bittersweet taste of lightly cooked Brussels sprouts is perfectly suited to hearty autumnal dishes such as steak pie and roast game. They are also well suited to stir frying with bacon and chestnuts.
This is the prime time for English apples, especially bakers as their acidity is such that they are perfect for fools, sauces and baked apple dishes. Willington Fruit Farm in Cheshire is the most northerly commercial grower of apples and you can look forward to traditional dessert varieties such as Cox Orange Pippin, Red Pippin, Kidds Orange, Gala, Spartan. Chivers Delight, Egremont Russet, Crispin, Belle de Boskoop and Melrose.
This is also a fantastic month for English pears – they are traditionally ripe and ready to eat and varieties to look out for are: Conference, Comice and Concorde.
Home-grown celery is a delight at this time of year and has a pleasant sweetness. This is an extremely versatile plant and can be used in soups, stocks, sautéing or raw in salads and with cheese.
This month we will see the transition from English Lollo, Endive and Oakleaf to the French supplies, with more transport involved you can expect a slight price increase.
A wide variety of home-grown squash is harvested at this time of year, a popular one of which is the Butternut. Its sweet firm textured flesh is ideal for use in lamb stews and Caribbean-style curries. Perhaps the best known of all is the Pumpkin, this is a wonderful vegetable and extremely versatile. Unfortunately, here in the UK we tend to only use them to make Halloween lanterns, a crying shame.
With Fresh Cranberries, Chestnuts and Sharon fruit making an appearance this month it’s a stark reminder that Christmas is on its way.
Also available this month: -
English and French quince
Span pomegranates
English pak choi
Brazilian yellow melons
Span Okitsu “Satsumas”
Italian “Champagne” grape

Date Uploaded: 13/05/2011

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December

Its is no coincidence that parsnips traditionally feature on the Christmas meal table, for at this time of year they are bursting with flavour. Now Grown in Norfolk, this vegetable was originally brought to France by the Romans. The Romans loved it so much they actually thought it possessed aphrodisiac powers. Although it is quite fantastic roasted why not try mashing or making lovely crisps for a salad garnish.
This is also the best time of year to buy Physalis, this bizarre lantern shaped fruit originates from Central America and is vaguely related to both the tomato and the deadly nightshade plant! It can be eaten raw, in salads, desserts, as flavouring and in jams and jellies. The fruits are excellent when dipped in chocolate, and can be dried and eaten. It is also often used as an herbal remedy for sore throats.
Belgian Endive ( or Chicory as we call it in the UK ) flourishes in December – figures from the growers suggest that sales to the food service sector grew by 33% last year as more chefs turn to its delicate bitter flavour. This versatile leaf is wonderful in winter salads, and adds elegance appeal and value to meats and other vegetables; whether braised, baked, sautéed, or sauced.
Pineapples are available throughout the year but at this time of year they are doubly appealing, as there are scarcely any home grown fruits. Always buy pineapples that are partially or fully ripe as they will continue to reach their full flavour potential. Green pineapples will ripen but will never attain their full flavours. Don’t forget, if you are using fresh pineapple in gelatine dishes you should always cook the pineapple first as uncooked will prevent your dish from setting.
Watercress has been eaten around the world for centuries and has long been regarded as an aphrodisiac, cure for baldness, hangover remedy, and cleanser of the blood just to name a few ! This aside, it’s a wonderful leaf with a hot peppery taste and makes fantastic soups, smoothies and hot and cold salads.
Don’t forget to buy fresh horseradish this month – this is fiery hot when fresh made and is far superior to its commercial bottled offspring. To grate your own horseradish by hand, hold cleaned and trimmed horseradish root firmly. Using a sharp vegetable peeler, carefully remove the outer layer. Rub peeled horseradish root against a fine grating surface using downward, criss cross motion. The time at which you add the vinegar is important. Vinegar stops the enzymatic action in the ground product and stabilises the degree of hotness. If you prefer horseradish that is not too hot, add the vinegar immediately. If you like it as hot as can be, wait three minutes before adding the vinegar.
Also available this month :
Sharon fruit
Sprout Tops
Cranberries
Cyprus Potatoes
Spanish Custard Apples
Chestnuts
Avocados

Date Uploaded: 10/05/2011

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