As we move into summer, the range of produce has changed quickly and we are seeing the beautiful fruits and vegetables of summer months appearing from our Irish growing partners, complimented by the huge array of produce available from our French growers.

In Irish produce, we can see the lovely Irish Strawberries, fresh shallots, fresh garlic, lots of soft and sweet whole head lettuces like Oakleaf and baby Gem alongside kales such as Cavolo Nero and Curly Kale, with Purple Kale following on shortly.  Beautifully coloured Rainbow Chard, purple Kohl Rabi and Radishes bring much welcomed summer options. We will have a limited amount of baby courgettes with flowers hopefully soon. Before too long we will also see tomatoes and courgettes, including the lovely Violin or Tromboncino courgettes with their versatile firm almost seedless flesh.  Squashes and Sweetcorn will come later in the summer along with lovely squashes (think Hokkaido and crown prince) but these will be towards the end of July.

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From our French growers, there is an abundance of lovely produce to choose from, including broad beans, fresh peas in the pod, French Haricot vert and borlotti beans (the lovely white Coco Paimpol arrive towards August). Aubergines of all types, like Graffiti, Japanese and white, Courgettes with the flower and lovely small violin courgettes.  Beautiful heritage tomatoes, such as Pineapple, Black, Green and Coeur de Boeuf are in top condition for the next two months, as are the ‘Primeur’ baby vegetables.  Small bunched coloured breakfast radishes replace the amazing red and blue meat radishes over the summer and there is a wide variety of soft baby leaves, mesclun, wild rocket, mizuna, pourpier, watercress and baby spinach.  Also prominent are padron peppers and globe and violet artichokes.

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The mushroom of summer is the Girolle.  The start of the season has been delayed because of the unusually hot weather of early June, but there are some available and this will increase over the next few weeks we hope, with prices falling.

White and yellow peaches are starting to taste lovely; sweet and juicy.  Apricots have also started. Black Cherries are in full swing and should continue as we move into June.  Gariguette strawberries will give way to the fragrant Mara de Bois (which has the fragrance of the wild strawberry, crossed with domestic strawberries.  There are beautiful Alpine wild strawberries, tulameen raspberries, Charantais and Cantaloup sweet melons, and the lovely black seedless Watermelon.