June brings an abundance of choice. Spain is the main provider of stone fruit, including terrific cherries and apricots. Closer to home, we are peak British season for asparagus, salads have hit their stride and the first peas and broad beans are flying out fast.
FRUIT
Spain is leading the way for fruit. Cherries are excellent quality and well-priced. Apricots are surprisingly sweet. Larger stone fruit, including flat ‘donut’ peaches, round peaches (white, too) and nectarines are plentiful but quality will improve as the month wears on.
Melons of all kinds are also Spanish on the whole. Again, they will get better with every passing week. Mangoes are still a good bet, including Alphonso and Kesar from India. (See our recent post on these beauties). Pakistan and Venezuela are other key producers.
Other options include the first red gooseberries from France. Early British raspberries have joined strawberries as a must for a summer dessert menu. Note that grapes are pricey at time of writing as we are in between seasons, with South Africa now at an end.
VEG
Peas and broad beans are the taste of early summer. British available – Italian also an option. British salads of all kinds are in full flow. Watercress is also well worth considering. British cucumbers and spring onions are on hand, too. There’s a dazzling range of excellent new potatoes – try Cornish, for example, for a change from Jersey Royals.
Asparagus is plentiful and well priced. Kale, chard and cabbage is also British and on good form. British broccoli is back. There’s no end of wonderful produce from the Continent, including excellent radish, baby veg of all kinds, fennel, celeriac, wet garlic and kohl rabi. Rhubarb (technically a vegetable) is also abundant and British.
EXTRAS
Wild mushrooms on offer include lovely cep, mousseron and morel from Canada. Spanish black figs are also a juicy option. Foraged elderflower is on hand (ideal with gooseberries) and wild garlic is still available but nearly over.
