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                        Welcome to: the seasonal year...
The month of January is long and cold, an ideal time for warming soups and pot roasts. A good month for fish, root vegetables and imported fruits. Vegetables in season are: avocadoes, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, chicory, celeriac, Chinese leaves, fennel, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, marrows, onions, parsnips, potatoes, shallots, swede, potatoes and turnip. Fruits in season are: almonds, apples, Asian pears, Brazil nuts, Cape gooseberries, chestnuts, cranberries, Clementine’s, dates, lychees, oranges, pears, pineapples, pomegranates, Satsuma’s, Seville oranges, sharon fruit, walnuts and waterchestnuts. Fish in season is: brill, carpe, cod, coley, Dover sole, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, herring, John Dorey, lemon sole, mackerel, oysters, plaice, skate, sprats, turbot and whiting. Meats in season are: goose, guinea fowl, hare, pigeon, rabbit and venison. February is a hard and wet month, rivers and fields overflow with rain and often with melted snow. Frosts can be frequent and days may be cold and windy. Delicate snowdrops help brighten the short days of a month that calls for delicious stews, hearty roasts and hot filling puds. Vegetables in season are: Avocadoes, beetroot, cabbage, carrots, chicory, celeriac, fennel, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, marrow, onions, parsnips, potatoes, shallots, swede and turnip. Fruits in season are: Asian pears, Cape gooseberries, Clementine’s, dates, kumquats, lychees, oranges, pears, pineapple, rhubarb (forced), Sharon fruit. Fish in season are: Brill, cod, coley, conger eel, Dover sole, flounder, grey mullet, haddock, hake, halibut, herring, John Dorey, lemon sole, mackerel, oysters, scallops, skate, sprats, turbot, whitebait and whiting. Meat in season this month is: beef, chicken, hare, pigeon, rabbit. March is a month of celebrations. Saint David’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, mothering Sunday, the first day of spring and the beginning of Easter. Potentially a cold and wet month and a good time to be using the last of the winter preserves. Vegetables in season are: avocadoes, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celeriac, chicory, cucumber, garlic, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, morels, spring onions, swede, sweet potatoes and turnip. Fruits in season are: Cape gooseberries, dates, kumquats, pears, pineapple, rhubarb. Fish in season is: brill, cod, conger eel, flounder, halibut, John Dorey, lemon sole, mackerel, oysters, scallops, sea trout, shrimp, sprats, whitebait and wild salmon. Meat in season this month is hare. In April spring is upon us with green shoots pushing through chilly soil. This month begins with All Fools Day and is followed by St Georges Day on the 23rd and Anzac Day on the 25th. Vegetables in season are: asparagus, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, courgettes, cucumber, leeks, lettuce, marrow, morels, parsnips, radishes, spinach, spring onions, tomatoes and watercress. Fruits in season are: Asian pears, bananas, pineapple and rhubarb. Seafood in season are:  brown crab, crawfish, halibut, lemon sole, lobster, mackerel, oysters, prawns, salmon, shrimps, trout and whitebait. Meat in season this month are: duckling and early lambs. May is perhaps the finest of months for seasonal produce. Beginning with the ritual of washing your face in the dew of the first day as well as the ceremonial maypole, May offers us two spring holidays, fresh young vegetables, succulent fruits and crunchy bright salads. What could be better than eating produce self picked that morning? Vegetable in season are: asparagus, broad beans, broccoli, courgettes, cucumbers, Jersey Royals, lettuce, mange tout, mint, morels, peas, radishes, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring onions, tomatoes and watercress. Fruits in season include: bananas, elderflowers, gooseberries, loquats, pineapples and rhubarb. Seafood in season are: crab, crawfish, haddock, lobster, mackerel, prawns, salmon, sea trout, shrimp, squid and whitebait. Meats in season are: spring chickens and lamb. June is a month rich in flavours and events, we will see the peak of the asparagus, new potato, strawberry and watercress seasons. Fathers Day, Henley Regatta, Midsummer’s Day, Royal Ascot and Wimbledon all occur during this warm and sunny month. June is full of fresh produce and it is always worth ensuring you start the month with plenty of free storage space in fridge, freezer and larder. Vegetables in season are: asparagus, aubergine, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, Chinese leaves, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, globe artichokes, green beans, lettuce, mangetout, peas, potatoes, radishes, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring onions, tomatoes, turnips and watercress. Fruits in season are: bananas, cherries, gooseberries, grapes, melons, raspberries and strawberries. Seafood’s in season are: crab, crawfish, haddock, herring, lobster, mackerel, prawns, salmon, sardines, sea bream, sea trout, shrimps, squid and whitebait. Meat in season this month is lamb. The month of July sees Americans celebrating Independence Day on the 4th, while the French mark Bastille Day on the 14th. July sees the beginning of the school holidays and we will be awash with wonderfully fresh foods. During July we seem to think more about how we will eat our food, with barbecuing and picnicking becoming popular pastimes. This month sees an abundance of fruit and berries. Vegetables in season this month are: aubergines, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, courgettes, cucumber, garlic, globe artichokes, green beans, lettuce, mangetout, peas, peppers, potatoes, radishes, spring onions, sweet corn, tomatoes and watercress. Fruits in season are: apricots, bilberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cherries, gooseberries, grapes, loganberries, mangos, melons, nectarines, peaches, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries and whitecurrants. Seafood’s in season are: Dover sole, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, herring, lobster, plaice, prawns, red mullet, salmon, sardines, sea bass, sea bream, sea trout, shrimps, squid and whitebait. Meat in season is guinea fowl. August is traditionally the holiday month as well as the beginning of the fresh game and shooting season. As with July, eating in the open air is common practice. This a fantastic month for both salad vegetable and fruit salads, and that abundance of quality foods make crudités a must. Vegetables in season are: aubergines, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, courgettes, cucumbers, fennel, garlic, green beans, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mangetout, marrows, okra, onions, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, radishes, sweet corn and tomatoes. Fruits in season are: apricots, Asian pears, bilberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cherries, gooseberries, grapes, loganberries, mangos, melons, nectarines, peaches, plumbs, raspberries, redcurrants and strawberries. Seafood’s in season are: Dover sole, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, herring, lobster, pilchards, plaice, prawns, red mullet, salmon, sardines, sea bass, sea bream, shrimps, squid and turbot. Meats in season are: duck, grouse, guinea fowl, quail and rabbit. September sees both the beginning of harvest and the first signs of autumn. Game is at its best this month as are our home grown leeks, marrows and tomatoes. Vegetables in season are: aubergines, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, celery, chanterelle, courgettes, cucumbers, fennel, garlic, green beans, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mangetout, marrows, okra, onions, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, sweet corn, swedes and tomatoes. Fruits in season are: apricots, Asian pears, bilberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, cherries, damsons, figs, gooseberries, melons, nectarines, peaches, pomegranates, plumbs, raspberries, redcurrants and strawberries. Seafood’s in season are: Dover sole, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, herring, lobster, pilchards, plaice, prawns, red mullet, sea bass, sea bream, shrimps, skate, squid and turbot. Meats in season are: duck, grouse, guinea fowl, pigeon, quail, rabbit and venison. It is worth dedicating time during October to the preservation of fruits and vegetables. Jams, jellies and pickles are good way to use up the previous months harvest. October sees the first of the winter festivals in the form of Halloween, just as our thoughts turn to hearty stews and pot roasts. Vegetables in season are: aubergines, avocadoes, beetroots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, celeriac, celery, chanterelle, Chinese leaves, courgettes, fennel, garlic, globe artichokes, green beans, kohlrabi, leeks, marrows, onions, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, swede, sweetcorn, sweet potatoes, truffles and turnips. Fruits in season are: apples, blackberries, crab apples, cranberries, damsons, dates, elderberries, figs, grapes, hazelnuts, mangos, medlars, pears, pomegranates, quinces, rowan berries, Satsuma’s, sloes and walnuts. Seafood’s in season are: carp, cod, coley, conger eel, Dover sole, eel, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, herring, mussels, oysters, pilchards, plaice, prawns, sea bass, sea bream, shrimps, skate, sprats, squid and turbot. Meats in season are: duck, goose, guinea fowl, hare, partridge, pheasant, pigeon, rabbit and venison. During November we will remember the fallen from two world wars. We have All Saints Day on the 1st, All Souls Day on the 2nd, we will burn Guy Fawkes on the 5th, commiserate with St Catherine on the 15th and St Andrew on the 30th. The third Thursday of this month will see the Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day. November is a month of days. Vegetables in season are avocadoes, beetroots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chicory, fennel, garlic, globe artichokes, greens, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkins, shallots, swedes, potatoes, truffles and turnip. Fruits in season are: almond, apples, Brazil nuts, chestnuts, Clementine’s, cranberries, custard apples, dates, figs, filberts, grapes, hazelnuts, kumquats, mangos, oranges, pears, persimmons, pineapples, pomegranates, quince, Satsuma’s, sharon fruit and walnuts. Seafood’s in season are: carp, cod, conger eel, Dover sole, eel, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, herring, mackerel, mussels, oysters, plaice, sea bass, sea bream, skate, sprats, turbot and whiting. Meats in season are: duck, goose, guinea fowl, hare, partridge, pheasant, pigeon, rabbit, turkey and venison. December means Christmas and the begging of the new year, a hectic time full of traditional foods. Vegetable in season are avocadoes, beetroots, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chicory, fennel, globe artichokes, greens, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkins, swedes, potatoes, truffles and turnip. Fruits in season are: almond, apples, Brazil nuts, chestnuts, Clementine’s, cranberries, custard apples, dates, figs, filberts, grapes, hazelnuts, kumquats, mangos, oranges, pears, persimmons, pineapples, physalis, pomegranates, quince, Satsuma’s, sharon fruit, waterchestnuts and walnuts. Seafood’s in season are: carp, cod, conger eel, Dover sole, eel, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, herring, mackerel, mussels, oysters, plaice, sea bass, sea bream, skate, sprats, turbot and whiting. Meats in season are: duck, goose, guinea fowl, hare, partridge, pheasant, pigeon, rabbit, turkey and venison.