Author name: Nick Ball

FRUIT NEWS THIS WEEK: There’s only One Show: Even in the depths of winter, there are significant changes to fruit in retailers. To name but a few, try the increasingly available South African Lychee; the improving Spanish Clemenules easy-peelers; or the sublime, sweet, juicy Florida Pink grapefruit. Easy-peelers are being featured on the BBC One […]

Slow Start: Is it me, or has there been an awful lot of pretty average tasting fruit around recently? Particularly with citrus, I’ve found much of the Spanish fruit to be below par, lacking sweetness or succulence, and we are only just starting to get good, sweet clementines with the arrival of Clemenules. Similarly, many

FRUIT NEWS THIS WEEK: The Problem of Immaturity: There have been some disappointing figs, persimmons and mangoes on sale, all due to immaturity at harvest, which is such a shame as they are lovely when at their best. We have also had to contend with unexciting new season clementines, perhaps affected by rain in Spain;

FRUIT NEWS THIS WEEK: Apples & Pears: It is the best time of year for apples and pears, particularly for the lesser-known home-grown varieties. However, there are other lovely gems to be found with great flavour, especially the autumnal offerings from the Mediterranean: mangoes, cherimoya, figs and persimmons, and beautiful plump satsumas. FOR OUR FRUITBOWL,

Fruit for Comfort: With a distinct nip in the air, the first fires in the evening and the slowing and softening of the natural world about us, the yearning for flavour and sensation definitely seems to change. We must be programmed through long evolutionary forces, as apples and pears, grapes and mandarins become so much

Tastes of Autumn: As the weather changes and the trees start to turn, the tastes of autumn start to dominate the choice of fruit in our grocers. There is an abundance of flavour from the long European summer growing season, much of which has been hot and dry this year. The impact of the growing

An Explosion of Grapes: The miraculous offer of tasty fresh fruit is ever changing, and August is no exception. This week there is an incredible array of new grape varieties available from Spain, fresh English apples and plums, sumptuous greengages and early pears from Europe – we are spoilt for choice! FOR OUR FRUITBOWL, WE

Berries and Cherries and All Things Nice: Abundance and choice are assured in these hot summer months, but what about flavour and sweetness? Fresh fruit is notoriously fickle, even at the best of times, so it pays to be careful in trying to pick up the best, so read on. Key changes in August to