Seasonal eating

Can you remember a time when we only bought swedes in winter or enjoyed strawberries when Wimbledon was on? Now you can buy nearly everything at any time of the year, but it comes at a price.

Eating food out of season means it travels further, is stored for longer and doesn't always taste great. Eating seasonal food means that food travels fewer miles, is stored for less time and does not require intensive agriculture.

We also think that strawberries from Spain out of the British season are bland, whereas home-grown strawberries in season are delicious. Not only are fruit and vegetables fresher and better for our health when they are produced at the 'right' time of year, but they are also cheaper as well.

We think that having foods at only certain times of year is exciting. We eagerly await asparagus in the spring, celebrate strawberries in early summer and take pleasure in having pumpkins in the autumn. Wouldn't it be less of a treat if we had Christmas pudding and hot cross buns all year round?

Warming up and cooling down

Chinese doctors believe that we should always eat what's in season, so when it's cold and bitter outside we can warm ourselves up with a good stew or a home made soup. Conversely when it's hot outside a salad or a freshly prepared cold dish not only seems appropriate, but it's what our bodies need.

Back in the rhythm of nature

Progress is a good thing but sometimes it goes too far. We have become accustomed to having the most exotic fruit and vegetables available all year round, and we have swapped the joy of the short Victoria plum season for having blueberries for breakfast every day.

How about rediscovering the pleasure of the first tender young greens of spring, the first raspberry of summer and the emergence of apples in autumn? And at the same time allow ourselves to be in tune with the rhythm of nature so that our bodies are well nourished and healthy.

Traditional farming methods

We don't think our customers want produce that has been forced to grow in hothouse environments, kept in chilled cabinets for months on end, and made to look just 'perfect' for the British market.

Organic food is not like that - natural farming methods mean that fruit and vegetables only grow according to their season and they do not look perfect. The organic season reflects the reality of the annual cycle of growing, flowering and fruiting. See Organic Foods

We bring to you the splendour of an authentic fruit and vegetable market with an array of colours and seasonal vegetables. Discover the pleasure of preparing and cooking seasonal produce while protecting the environment too.