Autumn is here - and it's a riot of produce at the Market.

October is a month that mingles the last of the summer with the first autumnal ingredients.  

This is a sublime time for UK apples and pears after an excellent harvest. Varieties are roughly two weeks ahead of their normal picking date. You will find Cox's Orange Pippin, Gala, russets and, a little later, the first Braeburns. The photo below shows Bramley, the cooking apple. 

Pears are rolling in now - Conference followed by Comice. 

It's the start of the European citrus season - always a lovely moment. The photo below shows Miyagawa clementines, an early variety. Classic clementines have just started, too, along with rarer species such as bergamots and cedro. You may also spot more specialist lines such as finger limes and Buddha's Hand. 

A new crop of quince (pictured below) has arrived. October is also the month for grapes from the Continent - including Muscat and Chasselas from France and Strawberry grape from Italy. Note that stone fruit are all but over - peaches, nectarines, plums and the like.

The wonderful French Sollies figs will wind down this month and the Market is already filling with Bursa black figs from Turkey which will last another six weeks or so.   

Autumn brings nuts such as chestnuts in their spiky husk and shelled. 

Walnuts - fresh or dried from California - also available.

Squashes bring a blaze of colour to Buyer's Walk. Dozens of varieties and expect pumpkins to carve for Halloween.  

Brussel sprouts have started. Why wait until Christmas to enjoy this excellent brassica? Kales, kalettes and cabbages such as Savoy also in season. 

This is some stunning Romanesco - also UK grown. 

UK sweetcorn will roll on for a few more weeks until the cold sets in. 

October is the top month for leafy celeriac - a highly underrated vegetable IMHO.

UK salads will wind down now but frisee - picture below - can handle a bit of cold.  

For wild mushrooms, you will find Cep, Trompette, Girolle and, if you're lucky, a bit of Lobster (pictured below).

See you in November for our next Market Report.