I hope you have taken the opportunity to enjoy some of the fabulous array of plums and greengages we’ve had at the market in recent weeks?

It is probable that these will be ending soon and for fruit lovers our palates will need to awaken to the already trundling apple season.

Alas this year we won’t have Croft Farm at the market for the first time in many years and so we must be thankful that they planted all those orchards over in Brookthorpe at Days Cottage, 25+ years on these trees are mature and producing great quantities of fruit.

This weekend’s varieties will be Laxton’s Fortune, Red Devil, James Grieve, Sunset, Ribston Pippin, Worcester Permain and Lord Lambourne.

The first pears are also ready with Bristol Cross and Conference available. Of course Days Cottage have grown their reputation around their apple juice and cider and at this time of year you can buy unpasteurised freshly pressed juice at the stall, which is fabulous but must be drunk within a couple of days lest it turns to cider!

Besley’s will still have strawberries this week, although it could be their last week, and Court Farm are now finished for the season. Coleshill and Styan’s will also have apples and pears.

Little Hollows Pasta returns from holiday and new stall The Happy Gut Hut, selling kombucha, are also back.

It’s goodbye and ‘until next year’ to The Lavender Garden, who’s last market of the year will be this Saturday.