MOST of us are becoming aware of the environmental costs of air freighting out of season fruit and veg, as well as the social and economic costs of poor countries growing these crops for export markets. 

But what I want to talk about is the loss of our experience of eating with the seasons, eating a sun drenched, just picked strawberry, grown for its sweet, perfumed taste explosion – not the largely flavourless and woolly supermarket strawberry varieties, selected for their long shelf life and ability to travel miles and miles without bruising or losing their perfect strawberry formation.

The strawberry variety they grow at Coleshill Organics is called Elan. 

But you won’t ever find Elan strawberries in the supermarkets, because this variety must be eaten within two to three days of picking. 

It doesn’t cope at all well with heavy handling, transportation, long storage or days on the shelves and is therefore deemed ‘unsuitable’ by supermarket buyers. 

Yet it is ideal for a farmers’ market stall, where taste and eating experience is paramount. 

Eating seasonally, with the help of our ingenious growers who, through the use of tunnels and glass, can bring crops forward some weeks, makes eating exciting. 

We look forward with anticipation to the coming seasons for their specific produce and the style of eating that inspires; new potatoes and salads at the barbecue wouldn’t be right mid-February when pancakes and warming roasts are the ideal!

This week’s market will see British soft fruits in full flush with Over Farm and Court Farm and Leisure having good quantities of strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries with similar (but organic) at Coleshill and strawberries at Besley’s whilst the seasonal vegetable selection is every bit as exciting to us seasonal eaters with those things we literally haven’t eaten for months suddenly in abundance.

Elsewhere this week we see the return of Phoenix Free Range with Turkey eggs and Raclette Raclette with cheesy potato luncheon.

Also in attendance this week for monthly stalls are Stainswick farm rapeseed oils, Trealy Farm Charcuterie, Ann Sohn Rethel pottery and the Old Cheese Room.

Hope to see you there!