Market Updates
🌿 In Season This February 🌿
“Winter Holding On, Spring Peeking Through.” ❄️🌱
February always feels like that in-between month.
Everyone’s a bit over the heavy winter stuff, but we’re not quite in spring yet. The mornings are still dark, menus are still root-heavy, and everyone’s watching margins a little closer than usual.
On top of that, you’ve probably seen the news about flooding across parts of Spain and Morocco. It’s already starting to ripple through the market. Some Mediterranean lines are a bit tighter, harvests have been disrupted, and availability can shift quicker than usual. Quality’s still good, but certain items aren’t as plentiful as they were earlier in the season, and pricing is reacting accordingly.
The good news? The proper winter produce is still performing beautifully.
Citrus is flying. Radicchios are at their best. The UK storage apples are solid. Brassicas are strong, sweet and reliable. And we’re just starting to see the first hints of spring creeping in — forced rhubarb bringing colour back to the stands, Italian broad beans starting to show, wild garlic not far away.
So this month is about balance.
Leaning into what’s genuinely strong right now. Keeping an eye on the weather-affected imports. And slowly, carefully, starting to lift menus with a bit of brightness where it makes sense.
Fruits
Blood Oranges – At their absolute best. Deep colour, balanced sweetness and acidity.
Pink Navel Oranges – Juicy, aromatic and consistent.
Seville Oranges – Still around but nearing the end of their window.
Lemons – Clean, sharp flavour with excellent zest quality.
Limes – Stable but slightly reactive to Mediterranean weather patterns.
Kumquats – Glossy skins and strong sharp-sweet balance.
Passionfruit – Good aroma and pulp consistency.
Pomegranates – Vibrant seeds and strong flavour.
Grapes – Crisp, sweet and reliable.
Kiwi (Green & Gold) – Both varieties performing very well.
English Apples – Braeburn and Bramley holding beautifully in store.
English Conference Pears – Sweet, juicy and stable.
Salads, Leaves & Speciality Greens
Radicchio – Pink, Tardivo, Treviso & Castelfranco – Prime winter condition. Crisp ribs, striking colour and balanced bitterness.
Puntarelle – Strong Italian supply; crunchy and fresh.
Cimi di Rapa (Rapini) – Leafy, vibrant and full of depth.
Round Lettuce – Clean and consistent (Spanish dominant).
Rainbow Chard – Excellent colour and structure.
Swiss Chard – Still good but volumes beginning to reduce.
English Curly Kale – Dark, robust and reliable.
Speciality Radishes – Good crunch and plating colour (though some heritage lines tapering).
Wild Garlic – Imminent.
Vegetables & Roots
English Forced Rhubarb – First proper flush. Vibrant pink, tender and beautifully sharp.
Carrots – Sandy, heritage and standard English all performing well; sweet and dense.
Parsnips – At peak sweetness.
Beetroot – Red, golden and candy varieties all vibrant.
Swede – Scottish crop strong and flavourful.
Turnips – Clean and consistent.
Celeriac – Still good quality, though tightening slightly.
Jerusalem Artichokes – Nutty and earthy; reliable.
Leeks – English leeks improving week by week.
Kohl Rabi – Crisp and firm.
January King Cabbage – Excellent structure and value.
White & Red Cabbage – Consistent and well priced.
Hispi Cabbage – Good quality.
Savoy Cabbage – Beginning to wind down.
Purple Sprouting Broccoli – Excellent colour and flavour right now.
Kalettes – Sweet and nutty.
Romanesco – Strong structure and visual appeal.
Mediterranean & Speciality Lines
Marinda Tomatoes – Ribbed Sicilian winter classic with real depth of flavour.
Raf, Murice, Rebellion & Heritage Tomatoes – Performing well for the time of year.
Baby Artichokes – Just started.
Italian Broad Beans – Early arrivals improving week on week.
Crown Prince & Delica Pumpkin – Season tapering off.
Mushrooms
Chestnut & Field Mushrooms – Steady and reliable.
Wild Mushrooms – Girolle, Trompette, Chanterelle & Pied de Mouton becoming less consistent as the season progresses.
❌ Finishing / Out of Season ❌
Fruits:
Russet Apples
Cox Apples
Kaki / Persimmon
Vegetables:
Vegetables:
Savoy Cabbage (winding down)
Blue & Red Meat Radish
Cavolo Nero
Celeriac (tightening)
Crown Prince Pumpkin
Delica Pumpkin
Sweet Potatoes (quality softening)
