October has brought an abundance of apples, versatile fruits that can be used in a wide range of sweet and savoury dishes. Look out for varieties like Discovery, Braeburn, and the classic Cox apple, all now available.
Pears, from the reliable Conference pear to the flavorful Comice pear, are currently at their best.
For a more traditional touch in autumnal menus, quince is now available. This late summer fruit, known for its distinctive knobbly yellow skin, is a perfect choice for making preserves, pastes or jelly.
Berries
As the raspberry and strawberry season draws to a close, there are some quality concerns, resulting in shorter shelf-life for these fruits. Given the limited availability of imported products, there's a continued reliance on UK-grown berries.
Blueberries are also in short supply.. Blackberries are currently in ample supply and offer a fantastic choice for seasonal berries.
Lemons
Quality issues have emerged with South African lemons as the season nears its end. It's worth noting that the cost of lemons is expected to increase due to a transition from the Southern to the Northern hemisphere.
Oranges
Small to medium-sized oranges are in extremely short supply.
Fresh Orange Juice
The supply of fresh orange juice from concentrate continues to face challenges due to the persistent issues previously highlighted regarding orange supply.
Tomatoes
The timing of Ramadan has impacted labour availability and severely impacted pricing from Morocco in the past 2 years, reducing export volumes in March and April 2023 by 85%. This forced growers to sell product below the cost of
production, leading to many of them exiting the sector, which in turn is inflating prices.
Challenges persist with cherry tomatoes due to heat-related problems experienced over the summer, but there's gradual improvement.
Dutch round tomatoes are anticipated to conclude imminently, coinciding with the start of Morocco and Spain's harvest.
Supply of plum tomatoes remains challenging and is expected to be difficult for the next few weeks. This issue is widespread.
Tip: Given the rising prices, we recommend removing fresh tomatoes from your menus during the winter period and instead incorporate more seasonal root vegetables where possible.
UK Squash
The market is graced with a variety of UK-grown squashes, including Spaghetti Squash, Red Onion Squash, Green Kobacha, and Acorn Squash.
Pumpkins
As expected, plenty of pumpkins are readily available.
Carrots
Carrots are currently at their best.
Parsnips
The new season brings a fresher look and a subtle flavour to parsnips, similar to carrots.
Additionally, other noteworthy vegetables to consider this month include celeriac, leeks, and, for those seeking something a bit unique, parsley root.
Broccoli
Quality concerns have emerged as the UK broccoli season nears its end. Suppliers aim to address these during the packing process.
It's essential to note that the current market is quite tight, exacerbated by heavy rains in some parts of the UK, which have hampered harvesting, including fields being flooded. There are concerns that if the wet and warm conditions persist, there could be widespread quality challenges, potentially leading to rot in the fields.
The Tenderstem crop still bears some impact from the wet weather experienced in August and September. However, the crop is expected to fully recover with the transition to Spain and Kenya.
Cauliflower
Warmer temperatures have sped up cauliflower growth, resulting in fewer leaves and more exposed heads. Recent stormy weather and heavy rains have caused damage to cauliflower heads, affecting quality.
The transition from summer to winter cauliflower varieties is underway, leading to decreased availability until the winter crop arrives. Initial indications for the winter harvest look positive, with the cauliflower curd possibly having a slightly creamier hue.
Chillies
Availability of red chillies is limited, mainly due to reduced availability of Portuguese produce. While alternatives exist, it's expected that availability may pose challenges in the short term.
Salad
UK supply has finished for the season, so supply is being drawn mostly from Spain, Italy and other European countries over winter. This also drives additional import costs.
Whole head lettuces, including iceberg, lollo, oakleaf, and cos, will shift to Spanish produce.
Dutch salad products will gradually wind down throughout the month, making way for cucumbers and peppers sourced from Spain and Morocco. It's important to note that produce from Southern Europe may have a more rustic appearance compared to Dutch products. However, this does not impact the quality of the produce in any way.
Tip: Introduce more of the heartier warming pulses, grains and pasta salads to your menus, or watercress, lambs lettuce, and corn salad if you would like to keep a leaf option on the menu over the next season.
