The first pallet of the year from Strawberry Fields has just landed – fresh tarragon, lovage, sorrel, spring greens and lettuces all beautifully fresh and singing of spring. The puckeringly sour, lemony sorrel functions as herb, salad and a wilted addition to hot dishes too – a versatile and unusual leaf, we urge you to give it a try. We’ve also got loads of local rhubarb from Red House Farm and Alan Hewitt in Dunham Massey, perfect for weekend crumbles or batches of breakfast compote.
The hungry gap is beginning to open up this week as lots of stored roots and hard brassicas come to an end; expect gaps on kale, cabbages and swede while we wait for the new season to kick off. Plenty of purple sprouting broccoli, cauliflowers, spring greens and pak choi though to fill the gaps.
We’re still feeling the effects of the slow start to Spring, word on the lanes from Francis Sampson in Cornwall is that new potatoes are a good few weeks behind last year. We’re hoping to see the first UK asparagus any day now and we’ve local spinach from Glebelands coming in next week too.
Much to the excitement of the veg team, the first watermelons have arrived today and suggest a promising season ahead – clean, fresh and sweet with a good melony flavour, a lovely taste of warmer climates. Late season Spanish avocados are still eating really well and there’s good value to be had with courgettes and broccoli too. Peaches and apricots next week too!
