It’s that time of year when UK crop availability is starting to dwindle. Cavolo nero already saw its last pick, although we’re hoping for a comeback from Francis Sampson when his fields recover. Also biting the dust are purple carrots. This week there is still plenty of kale. Many different types in fact: green/ red/ winter wonderland and Russian. The latter being a flat leaf variety with a much sweeter flavour.
Pam from Strawberry Fields grows rocket leaves under cover in a polytunnel without artificial heat. She grows it in the winter as a rotation crop, rather than in the summertime when the market is saturated. This means we can enjoy her Lincolnshire grown leaves at a time that would otherwise mean scarcity.
From the continent there a few lines worth mentioning because they offer decent value. Spanish broccoli is abundant, with fresh deliveries coming in every day. Also, celery in bunches with tops on are a real special line for us. The tops, which for supermarket production get discarded, can be used to give extra flavour to a multitude of dishes, including soups and stocks.
Finally, after a tricky end to the Spanish clementine season we are now confidently selling Moroccan Nadorcotts. They’re not an easy peel, but they are worth the trouble in terms of taste.
