02 September 2024
United Fresh News
We’re heading into the typical cooler months of Autumn, and with that comes a bounty of beautiful UK products ready for the back-to-school madness! September is always a busy month in the industry, and this one is no exception. Have a chat with us about how we can help reduce some of your stress (and paperwork) by ordering your separate categories through United Fresh.
September Market Information
Fresh Produce Highlights:
Did you know that Strawberry season does not end with summer? UK strawberries are actually harvested until October, which means that you have an extra month of the British summer classic to enjoy.
Alongside strawberries, our farms are still sending plenty of Blueberries and Raspberries into our depots for September. So no need to abandon berries off the menu quite so quickly.
UK salad production is still in full gear and we are seeing the best quality and quantity of Baby Leaf, Iceberg, Little Gem, Cos, Lollo Biondi, Red Oak, Radicchio, Rocket, Round Lettuce, Frisse and Prepped Bags too.
Potatoes, the most talked about product of the year. As we head into New Season Potatoes, we think it’s useful to go over the best storage practices to ensure your new season pots last as long as possible in your fridges! As previously predicted, our new season potatoes were more delayed than normal due to late plantings on top of an array of other issues our farmers have faced. Normally in September the crops are ready to be harvested and then stored, where their skins can set. However, as this setting process has not yet happened, it makes the product more delicate than you may be used to, often resulting in damage and scuffing at any stage from harvest to prepping. One thing we recommend is to keep the potatoes dirty and cool. Washing the potatoes can lead to further breakdown and a shorter life span on your shelves and keeping them below 5 degrees C once washed reduces the risk of breakdown further.
It’s not only potatoes who have delicate skin right now! We’re in peak UK root veg season, and we’re seeing a bunch of beautiful British products coming into the depots. Bunched and Heritage Carrots come to mind. These products are also experiencing softer skin, so please take note of the above advice and take into consideration shelf life when ordering.
We should see improvements over the next few weeks as the products naturally mature more, but please remain mindful of the conditions highlighted.
Fish Highlights:
Autumn is a brilliant time for our native species which means that you should have an abundance of UK products to select from when creating your autumnal dishes.
Your flat fish favourites are at their best this time of year, with yields of Plaice and Lemon Sole being strong. Alongside some more underrated Turbot, Cornish Sole or Brill!
We will see an improvement in Cod landings due to the start of the new quota in September, which means we should in theory also see a decrease in prices… However, the Norwegian-Russian Joint Fishery Commission has recommended that a limit of 311,587 metric tonnes of Cod is to be fished in 2025, this is down 64% compared to 2021! This could mean that we see many people purchasing and freezing down this year’s products to compensate for the future cuts.
Whilst Haddock is still a viable option, we recommend avoiding Hake where possible due to its high volatility in pricing.
Lobsters are still going strong, with the warmer weather extending the period of supply we usually expect.
September is also the month we welcome in our Native Oysters! There will be a small amount in stock until they kick in properly in October.
Our team is always here for any questions or queries you may have about any of the information in this report.
Seasonality Information
Now onto the fun bit…!
This month we’ve provided a printable PDF for your team to place in key areas of the workplace, click here to download for free now!
For any questions regarding the above, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today:
Tel: 01789 339 106
