The hungry gap is the period of time between the end of the last harvest and the beginning of the next, a time where the variety of fresh fruit and vegetables is far reduced. In the UK this hunger gap lasts from around March to June.
Of course, there are still many veggies available at this time of year, and in May we have the much longed for asparagus! Fresh and local asparagus far exceeds the varieties from foreign climes in taste and texture, and our guest stall at the farmers market sells out fast!
The joy of buying seasonal produce is highlighted with this example. The anticipation of fresh seasonal asparagus is almost as good as actually eating it! And I am already excited about the upcoming soft and cane fruit season! Eating strawberries and raspberries year round is just not satisfying. And you simply cannot beat that first smell and taste of a ripe picked raspberry….wow! It really is worth waiting for!
So, even though it is our Hungry Gap, you won’t be disappointed with the variety of vegetables we have in season throughout May (please note that not all these are available at the market in May; if they are not, then they are coming into season throughout the month).
Here are some examples of what you can find:
Early carrots
Chicory
Kale
Lettuce
New potatoes
Radishes
Salad leaves
Spinach
Swiss chard
Purple sprouting brocolli
Watercress
Spring cabbage, Spring greens and Spring onions!
Bunched beetroot
Sorrel
Early leeks
Oriental vegetables
Parsley
Chives
Thyme
Sage
Mint
And don’t forget our wild harvests. The fresh tips of nettles make a zingy tea! Why not try something new?
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