We’ve an abundance of fantastic UK produce this week after a long awaited blast of sunshine, and crops that had been taking an age to come along are finally starting to appear in better quantities.
Broad beans from Kindling market garden in stockport and are tasting absolutely delicious straight out of the pods, and the first delivery from strawberry fields will arrive later in the week. The first UK cauliflower and broccoli of the season have also hit the shelves, with caulis in particular packing plenty of flavour. They’re great roasted and added to a sweet nutty salad.
Better temperatures and light levels have unsurprisingly sent some tunnel and glasshouse crops off the charts. We’ll start to see a smattering of the first Lancashire tomatoes of the season over the next couple of weeks, and peppers hopefully not too far behind. This week though sees an abundance of Lancashire aubergine and cucumbers making their way to us courtesy of Lyncroft farm in Ormskirk. Duncan’s Gielty’s cucumbers ooze flavour compared to the varieties you find at your high street supermarket, while still being and delicate and crisp. Perfect popped in your Pimms this weekend. His aubergines as well are impressing this week, perfect grilled, barbecued or soaking up flavours in a salad or curry.
On the fruit front red blushed delicot and rougecot apricots are a particular highlight this week, along with sumptuously sweet French melons. Try them in a sorbet, as easy as it is refreshing. Welsh strawberries also make an appearance this week, although not yet in substantial quantities. We expect to see UK berries appearing in better volumes over the next few weeks though, with the first gooseberries arriving from Libby Flintoff this Thursday.
