Happy New Year from New Covent Garden Market. 

Two highlights for January are yet to arrive ... Yorkshire forced rhubarb and blood oranges. At time of writing, you may find some early batches on the Market but it is the very start of the season. The oranges will take a few weeks - and cold nights - for the dark blush to improve. 

Seville oranges (pictured below) are peak season now but act fast - they have a very short season. Traditionally used for marmalade, they are now deployed more widely by creative chefs looking to make the most of their aromatic and bitter notes.

Other citrus in season now include leafy clementines, grapefruits, pomelo, bergamot, cedro and 'chocolate' orange (pictured below).

Another highlight in January is agretti - a.k.a. monk's beard - from Italy. This ingredient has been growing in popularity and should be available for three or four months. 

Don't forget about apples and pears. Comice pears are at their best; Conference (below) also available. Apple varieties include Cox, Braeburn, Spartan and Bramley. 

These cold months are a blessing for the bitter leaves such as the radicchios. (The purple colouring in some plants is intensified by low temperatures). Rose or pink radicchio is pictured below. Tardivo, Castelfranco and Trevise also available. 

Puntarelle and Cime di Rapa from Italy are in season.

Winter tomato varieties include Camone and Marinda, which have an excellent crunch and more savoury flavour. 

All the brassicas are here. Cabbage varieties include January King, Hispi and Savoy. You can still find srpouts and tops, plus Romanesco, tenderstem, caulis etc. 

For roots, celeriac is excellent this month. Also Jerusalem artichoke (below), beetroots, carrots and various varieties of radish.

Chestnuts and walnuts are still on hand.

On the fruit front, January is a good month for lychees, pomegranates and kaki fruit (a.k.a. persimmon). These figs are all the way from Brazil. 

For a taste of summer, there are batches of southern hemisphere cherries - these from South Africa. 

This is an unusual one - Jicama. This grows on a vine and has an intriguing, crisp texture.

For wild mushrooms, Trompette, grey Chanterelle, Pied de Mouton and ceps. 

See you in February for our next Market Report.