Latest news
30.04.2010
Weekly Newsletter...
At the markets…Tomatoes – English Longdon Hill Nursery tomatoes are now in stock – market leading varieties include yellow and red cherry, cocktail, on the vine and standard salad tomatoesThai Products – Imported lines are all suffering from disruptions to supply - initially due to the flight disruptions and now compounded by civil unrestApples – new season Chilean and Brazilian are now in stock – eating very well – crisp and freshAsparagus – English now in stock, with varieties from Wye Valley and Evesham, but local Cornish is still yet to come throughMicro-cresses - new lines are available in this great range such as lemon balm and samphireSalad Leaves – English Lollo Biondo & Rosso, Oakleaf, Endive, Cos, Iceberg all now available – Spanish quality much better and prices have eased right back down with supply exceeding demandBaby Veg – problems with heavy rain inSouth Africa have led to shortages in supply which remain an issue – French are filling the gap but demand is outstripping supply so prices are highRed Rooster Potatoes – we now stock this extremely versatile potato, it can be used for chipping, mashing, boiling, baking, and roasting Local Produce…Cauli -Cornish cauliflower continue to be plentiful and are a great value optionRhubarb -Nice local rhubarb is available alongside the regular English stock which is ensuring it is good value at the market Ware Potatoes -Remain good value with plenty of choice – local Cornish potatoes start at £2.00 for 25kgCornish Vegetables – We recommend spring green cabbage, purple sprouting and leek for value and seasonalityCornish New Potatoes – some growers picked too early in an attempt to be first to the market, but quality is improving now – also very good Majorcan new potatoes availableEnglish Strawberries – high quality English Haygrove now in stock, as well as Dutch and Spanish offering a choice in price and qualityLizard Leaves…This market leading local baby leaf is back in stock and the quality speaks for itself.We highly recommend this great product.
27.04.2010
Product Info: Lizard Leaves
We were very pleased to receive the first picking of Baby Mixed Leaves from the Lizard Leaf company yesterday. Stock is very limited to start. The early mix contains Peatips, Green and Ruby Mustard Frills, Mizuna, Russian Kale, Batavia, Purple Tatsoi, Green Pakchoi, Greek Cress and Baby Spinach. At just a slight glance the colour and quality stands out, the leaves are sure to compliment any quality dish. Available in 300gm catering size bags.
22.04.2010
Product Info: Air freight
We are experiencing a few problems with regards to the flight restrictions in place; many air freight products have been difficult to source, i.e. Fine Bean, Mange Tout, Sugar Snaps, Fresh Figs, Baby Corn and Pitihaya. Although we have found supply of the majority without too much bother it is now affecting the supply of main herb lines, coriander, mint, rosemary, basil etc. suitable bunched herbs are being stocked as and when available. The problems are expected to ease at the beginning of next week as product is loaded over the next couple of days to land in the airports of this country over the weekend.
26.03.2010
Weekly Newsletter 29th March...
At the markets…Salad Leaves – exporters warn that prices will continue to rise as demand exceeds supply across Europe – we recommend customers opt for the 500gm mixed baby leaf salad bag for the best value and quality Tomatoes/Cues/Peppers – Dutch produce is starting to hit the market and is far superior to Spanish imports, again leading to demand exceeding supply – Dutch Tomato on Friday 26th March sold out completely in Holland at £16 a box, leaving nothing for the export market Berries – Strawberries are currently good value and the best berry option, there are cheap Spanish raspberries available but we prefer the better quality S/African Haygrove Raspberry Fresh Figs – excellent value at the moment and a great option at 30p each Micro-cresses new lines are available in this great range such as lemon balm and samphire Dill & Tarragon – still problems with the usual supply chain for these delicate herbs which have suffered with the weather – interruptions in supply remain Foraged… We can source wild produce to order from around the county – among the range currently available are Wild Garlic, Alexanders and Wild Sorrell… Local Produce…CauliCornish cauliflower will be more plentiful in the coming weeks and prices are dropping – on promotion this week at 40p each Root VegetablesCarrot, Parsnip and Swede are better quality now and prices are good making them a better option than the imported lines like calabrese and courgettes which remain high Potatoes Remain good value with plenty of choice – local Cornish potatoes start at £2.25 for 25kg Cornish Cabbage – Savoy cabbage is good value and better quality now Chipping Potato – for all specialist hand cut chippers we recommend our Williams chipper – the best available on the market
26.03.2010
Produce Info: Salad Lines remain in short supply
Growers of Spanish iceberg are warning that the UK market will run short of product over the next two weeks as importers continue to scour their sources far and wide to meet customer demand. Exporters are warning the situation will get worse before it gets better and that they will really struggle to supply their customers throughout Europe. UK importers say they have been struggling since almost the beginning of the year to keep customers supplied across all salad lines, as well as try and break even themselves.(as printed in Fresh Produce Journal March 24th) Dutch tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers have all been available but demand is so great due to the superior quality over Spanish that prices and supply have gone beyond reach for the everyday market. On Friday morning (26th March)our buyers were greeted with the fact all the Dutch tomato had been cleared by 6am at £16 per box within Holland leaving nothing to export. We are very much looking forward to the UK season starting to settle a very up and down market with regards to pricing and quality.
15.03.2010
Weekly Newsletter...
At the markets…Lollo, Oakleaf, Endive have all been affected by the poor weather in Northern Europe. Alroprim salads are grown on the French/Spanish border which has suffered extremely poor weather. Quality however is inconsistent and prices are high, but they are the best available Peppers – Another Spanish import that is short on the market keeping prices high - quality remains inconsistentBerries – new Dutch Strawberries are now in stock and looking nice, Haygrove Raspberry remain available but in small quantities, Spanish raspberries are filling the gap Pear – new season South African William pear in stock Sea freight Sugar Snap and Mange Tout has arrived, expect some good deals. However due to poor returns in Kenya during January limited quantities of fine bean has seen cost prices rise Wild & Exotic Mushrooms – the exotic wild mix is an excellent standard at the moment with pink oysters included adding a touch of quality Tomatoes… Early English tomatoes have started -round, cherry vine and large vine in stock. Spanish quality is still poor and with bad weather and very low crop yields prices remain high at the markets…Local Produce…Cauli Have been cut small to prevent frost damage, but there are signs that Cornish cauliflower will be more plentiful in the coming weeks Jerusalem Artichoke Fresh, large and local speciality Root Vegetables Carrot, Parsnip and Swede are better quality now and prices are good Potatoes Remain good value Cornish Cabbage – Have been damaged by recent frost and need trimming Chipping Potato – for all specialist hand cut chippers we recommend our Williams chipper – the best available on the market
03.02.2010
Product Info: Salad Leaves
The majority of salad leaves, rocket and mixes are suffering from the cold spell and continuous rain which occured a couple of weeks ago in Italy which is the main source of baby leaf at present, this along with a shortage of baby leaf spinach also a victim of poor weather but this time in Spain is creating an overall shortage of what is the most popular method of decorative salad.
We would like to recommend the use of micro cress salads as an alternative until the crops improve, although pound for pound a little more expensive less can used per serving and still have an impressive effect on the plate.
02.02.2010
Newsletter update...
At the markets…Apples - new season Chinese Fuji are very crisp and refreshing, and English Royal Gala are still eating wellLollo, Oakleaf, Endive are all French Alroprim which cost more, but are double the size and far superior in quality to everything else on the market. Lettuce/Iceberg quality remains inconsistent at the markets Berries – new season Strawberries are now in from Spain, availability will increase and price should drop in the next few weeks. Raspberries remain short and prices high – we are stocking the best quality HaygrovePear – new season South African pear should be in this weekOranges – Spanish Navalina are now in season and taste greatSpanish Onion –large onion crops have failed down 45% on expected yields pushing up market prices significantly Wild & Exotic Mushrooms – the exotic wild mix is an excellent standard at the moment with pink oysters included adding a touch of qualityTomatoes…Have gone through a difficult period – we are now stocking Morrocan rather than Spanish – better quality and valueLocal Produce…All local veg has suffered from the recent cold weather – availability and prices are reflecting this impactCauli – not much surviving the cold snap without pepper spots and rot, we are stocking Italian and French alongside Potatoes still remain good value and on promotionRoot Veg - Carrot and Parsnip prices have eased as harvesting has increased and demand slowed down since the main snow and ice cover across the country earlier in JanuaryCornish Cabbage - Local Savoy have survived the frost and a great choice Chipping Potato – for all specialist hand cut chippers we recommend our Williams chipper – the best available on the market Salad Mixed Leaf – 100gm punnets are available allowing caterers to order smaller amounts more frequently to ensure leaves are as fresh as possible
