September 2025: Seasonal Produce Report

As summer gracefully transitions into autumn, September brings some of the year’s most exciting produce to our markets!

This month showcases the very best of the British harvest season whilst introducing the first hints of autumn’s bounty. From the last of summer’s stone fruits to the first wild mushrooms of the season, September offers an exceptional palette for London’s finest kitchens.

Brilliantly British Produce

The Heart of British Harvest

This September, we’re particularly proud of our British offering. The combination of a warm summer and recent rainfall has delivered exceptional quality across our home-grown range.

• Outstanding Salads & Leaves: Our partnership with L.J. Betts continues to deliver exceptional leafy greens. Their baby kale and mixed leaves are showing remarkable quality this month, whilst whole-head lettuces including Little Gem, Lollo Blonde, Lollo Rossa and Oakleaf are at their seasonal peak. The land cress from Betts adds a peppery note that’s perfect for autumn menus.
• Don’t miss the watercress from Chalke Valley – crisp, clean and bursting with that distinctive mineral flavour that only comes from spring-fed beds.
• Tomatoes: The Isle of Wight tomatoes are absolutely stunning right now. We’re receiving cherry vine, golden baby plum, vine, green tiger, mixed premium heirloom, San Marzano and mixed cherry vine varieties. The extended growing season has intensified flavours beautifully – these are tomatoes that truly taste of sunshine.
• Vegetable Heroes: Wye Valley’s fine beans deserve special mention – they’re showing exceptional tenderness and flavour. The outdoor rhubarb from the same region offers that perfect balance of tartness and sweetness that only comes from traditional outdoor growing.
• Our baby vegetables from Remfresh – including carrots, fennel, turnips, leeks, and beetroot in red, golden and candy varieties – are jewel-like in their perfection. Ideal for elegant garnishes or feature presentations.
• Fruit Perfection: British apples are coming into their own with Discovery, Bramley and Cox varieties showing excellent eating quality. Annabel’s strawberries continue to impress with their exceptional sweetness, whilst blackberries offer that taste of the British countryside.
• The cobnuts are particularly fine this year – a true seasonal delicacy that signals autumn’s arrival.

From the Rest of Europe

Continental Excellence

Our European sourcing continues to bring restaurant-quality ingredients to London kitchens.

• Mouneyrac’s Premium French Apples Golden Rose, Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples represent the pinnacle of French apple growing. These premium varieties offer consistent quality and exceptional flavour profiles.
• The last of summer’s stone fruits are exceptional. Blood, yellow and white nectarines and peaches are at their sweetest, whilst mirabelle plums offer that distinctively honeyed flavour that marks the end of the stone fruit season.
• Charentais, Piel de Sapo and watermelons are showing excellent sugar levels and that perfect balance of sweetness and refreshment.
• The first figs – both black Provence and Turkish varieties – signal autumn’s approach with their rich, complex sweetness.

Sourced Directly from Milan

Italian Authenticity

Our direct Milan sourcing ensures you receive authentic Italian ingredients at their peak.

• Citrus Excellence Leafy lemons and bergamot bring that unmistakable Italian character to autumn menus. The kumquats are particularly sweet this season.
• Autumn Fruits Persimmon (kaki fruit), pomegranate and wet walnuts offer those rich, warming flavours perfect for the season ahead.
• Leaves with Character Castelfranco and Treviso add sophisticated bitter notes to salads, whilst wild bunched rocket and broad leaf rocket deliver that peppery intensity Italian cuisine demands.
• The Vesuvio, Merinda and Camone tomatoes continue our Italian heritage varieties theme with exceptional flavour and cooking properties.

Wild & Foraged Treasures

Pre-Order from Our Foragers

September marks the beginning of foraging season proper. Pre-orders are essential for these wild ingredients:

• Sea purslane and sea aster – coastal flavours with mineral intensity
• Elderberries – perfect for sauces and seasonal preparations
• Crab apples and sloes – traditional British flavours for autumn menus
• Scott’s Pine and Douglas Fir – aromatic elements for innovative dishes

Mushroom Season Begins

The first wild mushrooms of autumn are arriving, and quality is exceptional:

• Scottish chanterelles and scottish girolles – golden treasures from Highland forests
• Cepes and pied mouton – rich, earthy flavours
• Trompette and black truffle – luxury ingredients for special menus

From Further Afield

Global Specialities

Exotic fruits continue to offer menu excitement with honey glow pineapple, jumbo airfreight passionfruit, lychees, longan and airfreight mango all showing excellent quality.

Golden kiwi, finger limes and various pitahaya varieties add colour and unique flavours to dessert menus.

Get in There!

September represents that perfect moment when summer’s abundance meets autumn’s first offerings. The quality across all categories is exceptional, making this an ideal time to showcase seasonal British produce alongside the best of European growing.

Our six-day delivery service ensures everything arrives at perfect ripeness, whilst our experienced team can guide you through the seasonal transitions ahead.

Contact us to discuss your September requirements. With harvest season in full swing and autumn’s treasures beginning to arrive, there’s never been a better time to celebrate seasonal British produce alongside our carefully curated international selection.

For wholesale enquiries and orders, call our team or browse our fresh produce collection online.

Rushton’s: The Chefs’ Greengrocer
Connecting London’s kitchens to consciously sourced fresh produce