What's Coming Into Season This Summer

What's Coming Into Season This Summer

What's Coming Into Season This Summer

With the warmer weather finally starting to make an appearance (in-between the rain), we have an array of summer’s finest fresh produce coming into season and ready to compliment your menus.

Tomatoes

The tomato species originated in western South America and Central America and although classified as a fruit, are predominantly used as a vegetable ingredient. There are many varieties of tomatoes of different sizes and colours from the huge beefsteak to tiny cherry tomatoes.

We supply Isle of Wight heritage tomatoes which have been growing in the Arreton valley for over thirty years. The island’s unique climate and southern location boasts some of the best sunshine levels in the whole of the UK, growing some of Britain’s tastiest tomatoes, infamous for their sweet, gently tangy flavours.

Courgettes

June marks the beginning of courgette season, with deep green and vibrant yellow varieties ready for eating. Courgettes, including the flower head, are extremely versatile due to the sheer volume they produce when grown.

If you’re looking for a more intense flavour, those with ‘green tint’ or ‘custard’ in the name, such as ‘Bennings Green Tint’, ‘Patty Pan Green Tint’ and ‘Custard White’ are what you are after. They are an older variety and nuttier than regular courgettes.

Strawberries

Strawberry season kicks off at the end of May through to late September. Strawberries can be extremely difficult to grow well due to their sensitivity to temperature, but when they are freshly picked and still warm from the sun, they have an intense and sweet flavour that is hard to match. We stock Dutch strawberries from our suppliers Van Geest International, a family business with over forty years’ experience. Quality and freshness guaranteed, Van Geest offer a whole range of fresh fruit, vegetables and exotics and their strawberries are testament to this.

Broad Beans

Broad Beans are part of the pea family and packed full of nutrients, including vitamin A, B1 and B2. There are two main types of broad beans – longpods and Windsors (short pods). Longpods are hardier, whereas Windsor types produce rounder beans in shorter, broader pods. The latter are best enjoyed in the summer months and can added to any array of dishes for the perfect splash of colour.

Samphire

Samphire is a vibrant green plant that has a crunchy bite and is well known for its salty flavour. In Britain, Samphire grows naturally in muddy salt-water marshes and estuaries around the coast. It’s a seasonal delicacy, at its best from May until September. It is high in Vitamin A and a good source of calcium and iron. Once known as a poor man’s asparagus, it is becoming more and more popular, and we expect to see it on lots of menus over the summer.

We also have an array of many other British ingredients that are now in season from fresh peas, wye valley blueberries and english purple Kohl Rabi. Call us on 0300 303 0112 to order now.