August is an abundant month here in Wales, with fields, allotments and farmer’s markets overflowing with fresh produce. Which means it’s also the perfect opportunity to double down on eating locally, seasonally and ultimately – more sustainably. Eating locally produced food, when it’s in season, keeps more money in British farming and creates a more resilient, climate adaptive food system.
If you have the time, I would wholeheartedly recommend getting hands-on with some fruit picking this month; I loved picking strawberries in Bonvilston this time last year. Find out where else you can PYO fruit near Cardiff by clicking here.
SO WHAT’S IN SEASON IN THE UK IN AUGUST?
According to eattheseasons.co.uk, now is the time to look out for British-grown artichokes, aubergines, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, french beans, garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce & salad leaves, mangetout, marrow, onions, pak choi, peas, peppers, potatoes, radishes, rocket, runner beans, spring onions, sweetcorn, watercress, turnips, wild mushrooms and my favourite summer tomatoes. The ones pictured at the top of this post are from Riverside Farmers Market in the city centre.
On the fruit front, look out for ripe and juicy apricots, bilberries, blueberries, cherries, damsons, figs, greengages, melons, loganberries, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries – and now is a great time to forage for blackberries.
Seafood fans can look out for sustainable UK-caught coley, crab, dab, dover sole, grey mullet, haddock, halibut, herring, langoustine, lemon sole, mackerel, pilchard, plaice, pollack, prawns, red mullet, sardines, sea bass (wild), sea bream, sea trout, shrimp, and if it’s line-caught squid (avoid anything else as it will be trawled).
FIVE SEASONAL RECIPES TO TRY THIS MONTH
- Delicious Magazine’s Grilled Peach & Burrata Panzanella Salad (see below)
- Bar 44’s Fire Roast Figs with Chestnut Honey, Moscatel Sherry & Hazelnut Ice Cream
- BBC Good Food’s Roast Aubergines with Yoghurt & Harissa
- My Caws Cenarth & Heritage Tomato Salad
- My Cream Cheese & Roasted Tomatoes on Toast
