Fresh fruit news email archive
Previous editions of the email newsletter are listed here. Read the latest edition.
4 June 2008 - first email of the season
Dear customer - we're pleased to tell you that the first strawberries, gooseberries and broad beans of the season are now ready for picking.
Strawberries
We are currently picking the Elsanta variety, which is a popular early strawberry. Picking has only just started but there looks to be a promising crop ready to ripen up and the fruit usually bulks up quickly from now on.
Gooseberries
Although there is a good crop of gooseberries, they are already under attack from pigeons. Therefore I would advise you come and stock up soon before they eat them all!
Broad beans
The broad beans are perfect for picking right now, as they are young, tender and plentiful. If you are not sure whether you like broad beans, I've included a recipe for Minted broad beans with fried halloumi that you may like to try.
A day out
There are some places in the area that you might also like to visit while you are here. Our neighbours at Fillpots nursery have a small café serving good food, as well as a good stock of plants. Our village playing field has a skateboard park and play area with a picnic table for you to enjoy – if the weather improves!
Looking forward to seeing you all again for another year of fresh fruit.
Best wishes - Angela McLauchlan
13 June 2008 - second edition
Dear customers - the fruit season is well underway now!
Strawberries
The strawberry picking is good at the moment, with the varieties Elsanta and Christine in plentiful supply.
The first Hapil strawberries are also ready now. Hapil is a popular pick your own variety as it has an exceptional flavour, and cannot be bought in the shops due to its short shelf life.
The jam strawberries will be available from Monday, 16 June. We usually stock jam sugar in the shop, and there are plenty of free jam jars which customers have donated to reuse. Strawberry jam is very easy to make – check the website for more information.
If you are short of time now, you can freeze the fruit and make it later from small batches of frozen strawberries just as easily.
Broad beans
The broad beans are plentiful and delicious at the moment.
Gooseberries
There are some green gooseberries still available.
Picking
Remember to spread out over the plot when picking: most people pick the fruit in the first corner that they come to and so the picking becomes easier the further you walk.
Despite the rain, the field is quite dry and so your ordinary shoes should be OK.
I look forward to seeing you on the farm soon!
Angela McLauchlan
20 June 2008 - first raspberries ready
Dear customer – the fruit season is now well underway!
There are showers forecast for the weekend but the ground here soon dries out and is still pleasant enough for picking.
Strawberries
The strawberry picking is excellent at the moment, with lots of fruit and several varieties to choose from.
The jam strawberries are also good and we have plenty of jam sugar in the shop.
Raspberries
A few of the early variety Moy are available now. The other varieties will be ready from approximately 26 June, for those who hope to pick larger quantities.
Gooseberries
We have decided to open the dessert gooseberries up for picking while they are still green before the pigeons eat them all. I recommend visiting to get them as soon as possible as the pigeons will no doubt ensure they go quickly. Regrettably this means we won’t have any red dessert gooseberries this year.
Broad beans
The first crop is still quite plentiful. They have a good flavour and have now reached the floury stage when cooked.
For those who like the beans very young, the next crop will be available from Monday, 23 June.
Redcurrants and blackcurrants
The currants are just starting to colour up and will hopefully be ready by the end of June / early July.
Around the village
The village Methodist church on Chapel Road will hold a strawberry tea on Saturday, 21 June. There will be stalls and tombolas, and music will be provided by the Boxted Methodist Silver Band. If the weather is kind it will be in the open air.
I look forward to seeing you on the farm!
Angela McLauchlan
26 June 2008 - more raspberries and beans
Dear fruit friend – nearly all of our crops are currently available to pick as the season progresses.
Strawberries
There are still very good crops of the Hapil and Symphony varieties of strawberries, and the Elsanta strawberries are still available.
The jam strawberries are also good and we have plenty of jam sugar in the shop.
Raspberries
The raspberries are increasing in quantity daily. The varieties Moy, Ample and Prosen are ready to pick.
The later varieties of Tulameen, Magna and Leo will start in about another 7 to 10 days.
Gooseberries
There is still time to catch the last of the gooseberries, although the pigeons continue to ravage the crop.
Broad beans
The second broad bean crop has started and so we have plenty of young and tender beans to pick again.
Broad beans are delicious in risotto – a suggested recipe is given here.
Red and blackcurrants
The black and redcurrants are ‘colouring up’ and so we hope they will be ready from about the second week of July.
Around the village
There will be cricket matches on the village playing field at 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. The sports and social club is open for drinks during the matches and children are welcome to use the play area, skateboard park and football goals.
There will also be a grand bazaar from 2.30pm in the village hall on Saturday.
Our neighbours Fillpots nurseries serve good food in their tearoom, which can be eaten outside in the sunshine if the weather holds.
Visit our website to find out more about the village.
With best wishes and looking forward to your visit – Angela McLauchlan
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