Eat the seasons: Best of British autumn/winter food

How well do you know your fruit and vegetables? 

You may be surprised to learn that fewer than one in 10 of us knows when some of the UK’s most well known fruit and vegetables are actually in season!

This is mostly due to a wide variety of produce being available all year round in our supermarkets, with many of us not even glancing at the country of produce displayed on the packaging. We simply take it for granted that parsnips will be available all year round, not just when we want them beautifully roasted with our Christmas dinner!

This year round availability of ‘seasonal’ fruit and vegetables, including artichokes from Egypt and broad beans from Spain is pretty much accepted and expected within UK supermarkets, but this means that most of us have no idea when plums are at their most plump or blackberries are at their juiciest or when prime rhubarb picking season is.

Of course, there is always ‘something’ in season somewhere, but this makes it even more tricky to try and adhere to ‘seasonal’ eating.

Is it worth knowing which fruit and vegetables are in season? Well, yes, it is because it’s a matter of taste. Seasonal produce will always have a quality of flavour that out of season produce will not.

But then the argument surely is…can one really tell the difference between imported Peruvian asparagus eaten in September and home-grown asparagus from the Vale of Evesham, eaten in May?

Possibly. Possibly not. It depends how much of an asparagus connoisseur you are. But seriously, home grown, local, fresh produce is always going to have the edge.

Perhaps the most compelling argument of all for purchasing and eating fruit and vegetables in season is that of simply supporting British producers. Frankly, unless your shopping list regularly includes kumquats or mangos, by shopping seasonally you should, by and large, find yourself buying British. 

So, this Autumn and Winter, make sure you enjoy some fresh, British produce. There are some super tasty classic combinations in season, some guaranteed to take you on a trip down memory lane as well as setting your taste buds tingling. 

 

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• A nostalgic aroma
  
  Fond memories of the comforting waft of Mum’s blackberry and apple crumble drifting through the kitchen on an Autumnal Sunday evening? What a combination - perfect for a nostalgic trip down memory lane – and there’s nothing more British, with blackberries and apples both being in season through the Autumn months!
  
   
• The creamy classic
  
  How about another comforting classic – a deliciously creamy bowl of leek and potato soup. Leeks contain high amounts of vitamins, fibre and antioxidants making them perfect for fighting colds. Combine leeks with the floury Maris Piper potato for a beautifully smooth soup that is also hearty and filling.
  
   
• Bored with broccoli? 
  
  Try the purple sprouting variety instead of the traditional and pair with cauliflower for double the nutrition. When choosing purple sprouting broccoli, avoid any that are on the yellow side or a little wrinkly in texture. When selecting cauliflower, look for nice clean, firm, compact heads that are white or creamy-white in colour. Nice and fresh. Add a rich, homemade, cheesy sauce for true comfort food.
  
   

These suggested fruits and vegetables are in season through Autumn and Winter and so will ultimately be at their most tasty during these months making it easy to support the British food industry. And don’t forget to look for the Red Tractor logo for a guarantee that you are purchasing quality produce produced by British farmers.

Oh, and enjoy!