Samphire

Marsh samphire grows on muddy, sandy flats, often around estuaries and tidal creeks and as you can imagine from the location it has a delicious salty taste. Rock samphire is harder to acquire and a risky product to harvest as it tends to grow high up on cliffs. Because it’s a succulent it has a satisfying crunch, raw or cooked. You’ll find it at market from now until September but earlier is better before the flowers have time to form and it grows fibrous.

The name Samphire is commonly thought to be a corruption of "Saint Pierre" - St. Peter - the patron saint of fishermen because fishermen took it to sea to ward off scurvy.  Other less common names include sea fennel. The fleshy stems can be eaten raw but it’s delicious steamed, buttered and served as a partner with fish.

Cherries

Cherries arrive at market towards the end of June and the beginning of July. The months before are a fraught time for farmers, checking that weather conditions are perfect for their fleeting and fragile crop. Rain causes the fruit to split, so at picking time it can be a matter of one for the market, three on the ground.

Away with overblown and blowsy American bing cherries. We have beautiful varieties in the UK, including old fashioned Napoleons, known as Naps with their white blushed flesh. At Perry Court Farm’s and Fiveways Fruit Farm stalls at our farmers’ markets you can taste your favourite variety before you buy. It’s not uncommon to see customers leaving the farmers’ market loaded down with fruit baskets. Sadly, most UK cherry orchards have been grubbed up, so do buy English cherries and show your support for this beautiful fruit.

In Medieval times English cherry fairs celebrated the season. The Japanese celebrate cherry blossom, why don’t we? Michael Dallaway of Dallaway’s Cherries has hit upon the idea of renting out his cherry trees allowing you to come to the farm and pick your fruit.http://www.rentacherrytree.co.uk/