THE journey through our fruit season never ceases to fill me with wonder.

I am surely not alone in waiting excitedly for the first fruits to show in the early summer, when a winter of dark nights and short days already seems but a memory, and rhubarb crumbles have been tiding one over whilst the strawberries and raspberries show the first flowers, the tiny greeny grey buds starting on their journey towards the red and ripe fruits that we love.

At the market our first fruits of the season are tunnel grown strawberries in May.

As we go to the outdoor varieties in June we get gooseberries and the first raspberries as well, followed by currants in white, red and black, blueberries and then, in July, the cherries have their time.

Strawberries and raspberries will carry through to the end of September with autumn varieties giving a late crop and in the meantime, mid way through August, we start to see the first plums and early apples.

More exotic fruits such as grapes (available at Day’s Cottage this Saturday!) and melons are also coming through now and into September.

Our highly skilled growers, with years of experience, grow many varieties of each fruit.

This is perhaps more obvious with the apples and plums, which have such distinct features, than with the strawberries and raspberries, but the same applies.

Different varieties have different seasons, thus, through careful planning, the continuity of supply for us at the market is extended.