The New Covent Garden Market report bought to you by Jim at Harwoods of London Ltd.
Thursday 1st May 2008
Vegetables
Jersey Royals: The price has eased at last, although still expensive compared to normal mid potatoes, however they will continue to go down in price as the outdoor crops have started arriving this week.
Fresh peas: Are now available arriving from Spain & Italy at the moment. Please note that they are taking a few days to arrive into the U.K so they do loose their sweetness on the journey, my personal advice is wait for the English crops to start as they take 3 hour from the farm to the market rather than 3 days. Captain Birds Eye will agree to this too.
Beans:Fev’s or broad beans to us Brits are from France and Italy and are looking good. French beans from Kenya are up by a few pence due to a shortage of supply caused by bad weather conditions. Top & Tailed beans are also up in price and please remember that they are prepared in Kenya so all the goodness of this vegetable has disappeared before it’s loaded onboard the aircraft. Berlotti beans have made an appearance this week from Morocco although supplies are not consistent as yet.
Carrots: Standard Carrots are still home produced at the moment until the season finishes then we will have to use Imported from France or Italy. Chantenay are still available, alongside this we now have purple or black whatever you decide to name them. White and yellow should follow on in a couple of week’s time.
Asparagus: Indoor polly-tunnel forced stuff is available on the market, but please just be patient as you can’t beat the flavour of naturally grown outdoor crops. My top fella, Tom from Sutton Valance in Kent has said that he managed to cut 8.5 kilo of outdoor crop this morning, and informed me that subject to the weather being good this weekend he thinks that he may be able to supply us with a quantity for the end of next week.
Wild asparagus: has also started this week from France in 200gr bunches but not cheap,the price will calm down in a couple of weeks.
White asparagus from Holland has arrived this week and this is a sign that the Violet variety from France should be with us soon. Wild asparagus from France has made an appearance this week but at a premium, the price will ease as the season progresses.
Courgettes: available from France, Spain, Holland and home-gown crops are due to arrive shortly, a good safe value veg for spring menu and don’t forget the great courgette on flower available right now.
Artichokes: Globes are from Spain at the moment and as the season comes to its end the French crops will start to replace them butbe careful as last year the French got greedy so maybe it’s time to say good by and help your g.p. Jerusalem arestill available but the price will keep going upwards.
Garlic: Wet garlic is available for the next few weeks but, Wild Garlic leaf will come to the end within the next couple of weeks.
Salads
Cucumbers:We are now back on the big ones from Holland and the price has dropped back down to a reasonable level. We will switch over to the home grown crops when we feel that its good for your g.p. Mini cucumbers have know come down in price too, so now is the good time to start pickling.
Lettuces: Batavia is well up in price and the quality is not great, however Lollo rosso & oak leaf remains good value as they are a good size. Curly endive has improved as we have now switched over the ever outstanding Pearl Du Nord crop, it’s more expensive but has a big heart like myself!Little gems & icebergs are still from Spain, the quality will level and will decline but be assured as soon as the home grown crops get underway we will switch over.
Celery: Imported has improved this week from Spain & Israel. U.K crops should arrive at any time now.
Peppers: This week the prices have been the highest they have been for many years, this is due to the Spanish crops finishing earlier than they would normally and this caused a world shortage making the new crop Dutch fetch premium price. Check when ordering but Romero have been a cheaper option and a far better product but how long this will last is not known.
Chicory: Great value both white & red.
Cress: All cress prices will go up as most of them are imported and this is due to the Euro and the Pound not being great friends at the moment. So let’s give the baby leaf a chance, and keep in our own currency. See below.
Baby leaves: Alongside the ever popular leaves such as Mizuna, Ruby Chard, Red mustard and spinach, the dedicated local grower that has been supplying us over the last three years has recently planted some exciting new leaves that are now ready for us, these include red mustard frills, baby leaf watercress, golden mustard frills and three different baby leaf chards, as well as many more. The best way to buy them is in a selection box consisting of five different leaves packed in 200gram punets. They will be available in a gold, silver or bronze choice. And remember food miles they come from the farm. More details will be available on our website for further information.
Tomatoes: all shapes, colours & much improvedflavour have arrived. We now have yellow & orangeavailable as well as the green chutney ones. We also have the air loom jobbies back for those with a creative menu .Don’t forget tom toms or tom berries, they are also back in season. Plum vine are much improved .We have switched over to Dutch standard vine tomatoes as the price is more competitive than the Italian - if you prefer to stick with the Italian please state when ordering.
Fruits
Pears: Comice pears have now finished, we have now switched over to the Packams variety from South Africa, please let us know when ordering if you are poaching them and we will select the correct ripeness stage for you.
Mangoes: There are plenty of mangoes available on the market at the moment. There are cheap varieties that arrive into the market rock hard and theywon’t ripen as they have been picked far too immature.We have switched over to Air freighted extra large size from Venezuela as they have the best flavour unless you want them for chutney. Alphonso or Kasar: Yes they’re back in season now and are well worth using as they are sea freight and this has made a large difference to the price as they have been rather a silly price in fact terminal five price!
Rhubarb: Sorry Yorkshire indoor crops have finished. We have stock piled and we only have eight boxes left. Please note that the Dutch will carry on for a couple of weeks now. However home-grown outdoor red is now available.
Blood Oranges: It’s now the end for these also, the next two weeks will be the last on them until November/December time.
Pineapples: much improved with a lot more super sweet varieties available now, don’t forget the Queen or baby ones are also available now.
Melons: The first of the Spanish Galia’s arrived this week and although the skins don’t look great the taste is far better than what we have been receiving from Brazil. Charontais are now from Spain and although they don’t look like it they are ripe - I have been eating them for breakfast. The French crops will arrive mid July/August time.
Berries: We are now on Dutch berries until the weather warms up for our home grown crops to start arriving. Strawberries from Spain are still available but the quality is poor and not good enough for you. If you want them for puree or sorbets then please state when ordering and we will find you a bargain.
Peaches & Nectarines: Yes they have started with the first arrivals from Spain this week - for the time of year they are good. Not as ripe as we would like them to be but as they do ripen the flavour is okay.
Apricots: They have arrived this week also from Spain, they are small, greenish and not worth having until the season gets underway.
Cherries: Also hit the market this week from Spain - not bad quality but to be honest I cant justify £11.00-£12.00 per kilo depending on size, they will also come down in price soon.
That’s all for now so enjoy the sun if we do get any as we’ll be sure to have a hosepipe ban in August anyway! For any further information please don’t hesitate in calling the office or you can call me on my mobile 07764 349653.
Regards, Jim and all the team.
