2020

Mid December, 2020: Stores are gearing up their produce departments in readiness for the huge Christmas sales, which will perhaps have a different pattern this year with the pandemic restrictions. The focus in December is on great apples and pears, all from UK or Europe; lovely citrus, mainly from Spain; delicious lychee from southern Africa,

Cherries: from UK Apricots: from Spain Raspberries: from UK Melons: from Spain Oranges: Navels from South Africa Grapes: Sweet Celebration from Egypt, Candy Snaps from Spain Persimmon: Triumph from South Africa APPLE Update: Apple quality is very good with the peak of the southern hemisphere season, but the range is lacking in real interest as

Apples: Envy from New Zealand; Cherries: from UK Apricots: from Spain Peaches & Nectarines: from Spain Mango: Pakistani Sindhri Raspberries: from UK Blueberries: from Spain,UK and Italy Melons: from Spain APPLE Update: July wk28’20: Apple quality is very good with the peak of the southern hemisphere season, but the range is lacking in real interest

For My Fruit Bowl, I Have Bought: Cherries: Picota from Spain Grapes: Sable from Egypt Peaches & Nectarines: from Spain Mango: Indian Kesar Mandarin: South African Clemenule Raspberries: from UK Strawberries: from UK APRICOT Update: Spanish apricots are now plentiful, and the array of varieties is quite bewildering to the casual observer. Quality should be

Mangoes: Indian Kesar Lychee: Mexican Mauritius Persimmons: Triumph from South Africa Satsumas: Okitsu from Peru Strawberries: Malling Centenary and others from UK Pears: Taylor’s Gold and Comice Apples: Jazz from New Zealand APPLE Update: New Zealand-grown Jazz is the latest southern hemisphere apple to arrive on supermarket shelves. Expect a greater proportion of apples from

For My Fruit Bowl, I Have Bought: Persimmon: Triumph from South Africa Pear: Crispy Forelle Apple: Smitten from New Zealand Mango: Indian Alphonse and Kesar Kiwi: Yellow Sungold from New Zealand Satsuma: Mihowase from South Africa Blueberries: Spanish and Moroccan APPLE Update: European Smitten is now practically finished, but the New Zealand version is a

APPLE Update: May wk19’20:  Stores are increasing sales of new season southern hemisphere apples, principally from South Africa, but also from New Zealand, Argentina and Chile. Particularly look out for Smitten, now from both GB and NZ – a rare chance to compare origins of a lovely variety. Other freshly harvested varieties from the southern

FOR MY FRUIT BOWL, I HAVE BOUGHT: Mandarins: Orri from Spain & Israel; Oranges: Tarocco from Italy; Grapes: Black grapes from South Africa and Chile; Blueberries: From Morocco and Spain; Mango: Kent from Peru; Plums: African Delight and Ruby Star from South Africa; Pears: Abaté Fétèl and Packham’s Triumph from South Africa; Satsuma: Queen from