March is a thrilling month for UK produce. First up is wild garlic - a first sign of spring - which is just starting to arrive in volume. 

UK asparagus is also available but, at time of writing, this is very early. The only local green asparagus is forced under cover by the Chinn family in the Wye Valley. 

Other options include white asparagus from France and wild asparagus (pictured below). Purple asparagus tends to start a few weeks later. 

Yorkshire forced rhubarb is peak season. 

For other UK lines, this is the tail end of the season for UK apples and pears out of store. Your are most likely to find Cox, Braeburn, Bramley and Conference pears. 

For citrus, March is a solid month for blood oranges. The variety below are grown in Spain. But the 'true' blood oranges are the Tarocco and Moro varieties from Sicily. 

Clementines have moved on the late Nardicott variety. Lemons are also on good form. This includes leafy Amalfi lemons and the red lemon in the image below. 

The first peas and broad beans have arrived from Spain and Italy. 

How about these for something special? White strawberries from Spain. Gariguettes have also started in France and Frais de Bois are available, too. 

Another classy product are these mixed boxes of grumolo, a type of radicchio. These bitter leaves will fizzle out as the weather warms up, but Tardivo and Castelfranco are still available. Puntarelle and cime di rapa also in season. 

All varieties of artichoke are here: Violet, Globe, Thema etc. 

Tomatoes span both the winter varieties and the first boxes of traditional summer varieties grown under cover. These feel a bit early but modern tomato production has stretched the season a great deal.

For mushrooms, it is still cultivated Morels from China plus Pied de Mouton and Chanterelles foraged in Portugal. 

See you in April for our next Market Report.