I read an interesting piece in the Telegraph referring to the fact that, despite Supermarkets claiming to support British seasonal produce, some of our plum growers are finding it difficult to find a market for this year's excellent crops. Why? Because the Supermarkets are making 35p per punnet more with the imported plums.

           I was especially interested because it just happens that I had bought some (three to be exact) plums earlier in the week. I thought they were reasonably well ripened and would be okay. I was wrong. I should have used my better judgement. Most fruit bought in the Supermarket is picked too early and is supposed to ripen "en route" or on the shelf. If they were picked at the proper time after naturally ripening in the sun or at least on the plant they would probably not survive the journey. We are, therefore, conditioned into eating fruit that looks great but stays hard and has not the tantalising flavour and texture which it should have.

           I remember when, as youngsters, with my brothers and sister, we used to raid the garden when the strawberries and raspberries came into season. Then the plum tree got attacked when the plums started to fall. I have been lucky enough to eat an orange off an orange tree in Mataro (near Barcelona) in January and peaches and apricots from a street shop in Nice. All were ripe, juicy, sweat and tantalisingly tasty. Not firm, perhaps even sour and getting dry and lacking in taste.

           It is little wonder that we, in Britain, are criticised for not eating enough fruit. So, Mr pascall, or any of you Kent fruit growers (if you are reading this), could you consider packing your plums into protective packaging and sell them on the internet. Then it might be a case of British farmers shun British shops.  ( My sincerest thanks to all the shops who do sell British in season produce). 

We sell plums, come and get some!

We have a plum tree in our garden which is packed with plums ready for eating so we are very lucky!

And we have a tree that has apple like things on it but we don't know what they are, they're bright yellow and perfectly round. Does anyone have any ideas?

~Meggiewes~

Are they like apples inside? If so they are probably just of the 3000 varieties of apples in the UK. Possible one of the cider or crab varieties.

If they have stone, possibly a wild plum. Or a 'sprouted' version of one of the yellow varieties such as Pershore

We have two trees full of plums in our garden - it's a bumper crop this year.

Despite trying to eat our way through them, making lots of tasty jam and planning to make chutney (if we can get our hands on some more jars), we still have a fair few plums left.

If you would like some free East Anglian plums and are able to collect them, please private message me (or respond to this post). We live between Colchester and Sudbury on the Essex/Suffolk border.

In the meantime, I'd be interested to hear from anyone nearby who has some free apples (cider-making season looms!)

Johann Tasker:

If you would like some free East Anglian plums and are able to collect them, please private message me (or respond to this post). We live between Colchester and Sudbury on the Essex/Suffolk border.

What? You mean you aren't exploring the alcoholic potential of these wonderful fruit?  We make wine from our plums, blackberreis, rosehips, etc. and cider/perry from the apples and pears.  Lovely blackberries starting to pop out at the moment: went picking with the llamas and a cart round the hedgerows on Saturday.

there is a local sunday market and car boot sale nearby where we are now buying all our fruit and veg, which is a taste revelation after tesco fruit.

we also found a spare parts man for domestic appliances who will get any part for anything.

what a difference from stony faced, uninterested shop assistants

          Johann, I am afraid I am a bit far away to come and collect your plumbs. I bet they are really nice. We sometimes get from a friend or relation. We can eat the best ones and make jam with the not-so-good ones.

glasshouse:

there is a local sunday market and car boot sale nearby where we are now buying all our fruit and veg, which is a taste revelation after tesco fruit.

           That sounds great Glasshouse, That is what it is all about really. Do you get good peaches, apricots and citrous fruits there? I am trying to find a place up here as our last fruit shop has gone now. I don't fancy having to go to Dundee, Aberdeen or Edinburgh to buy our fruit on a regular basis.

ally, yes, you can get everything, and is usually ready to eat.

lots of bargains later in the day.

you cant beet plum jam on toast or with a cream tea.Weve got 2 trees(we had 4 but 2 died)

we used to sell them but now we swap them for vegtibles and homemade jams.Ive never tried plum wine,we may have some in the cabinet(must be older than me)

Meggiewes, From your brief description I suggest Quince.

A useless piece of information for you just now, but later in life when someone is pontificating about things, and quinces in particular, you will be able to say to them, Ah yes, when Napoleon's army was stationed at Chão da Vã in 1810 the soldiers would sometimes go wandering to Salgueiro do Campo about 3 miles away. They never returned because the locals would kill them, dig up a quince tree and replant it on top of the dead Frenchman so that nobody outside the village knew he was there.