Even if you haven’t made it to the Mediterranean in person this year, the vegetables associated with this part of the world are very much in season and widely available in the UK. With fruit, although UK strawberries are at the end of the season, other berries are coming into their own.

Blackberries

Big juicy berries abound in August. The classic blackberry and apple pie is always a favourite, as is the same ingredients in a crumble. If you are lucky, you may have some of these berries growing wild where you live, and nothing tastes better than free food!

Blueberries

An easy fruit to serve and just as easy to eat. As they are, in a smoothie or over your breakfast cereal, and a nice addition to your summer G&T too. Considered a superfood due to their high vitamin content.

Green Beans

The green beans of your grandmother’s day had to be destrung and they were also known as string beans. The string has now been bred out of green beans – a boon for the busy. Did you know that you can also get green beans that are a different colour? Purple and a more yellow colour are also available.

Peaches and Nectarines

These fruits came into season in July but are still in season in August. Peaches – the furry ones – and nectarines – smooth – are the same fruit but have a gene variation between them. They can be cooked but are so delicious raw they might not make it that far.

Celery

The crunchy stalks make this a popular low-calorie snack, although it is tastier still when paired with a dip. There is plenty of fibre in celery too so it’s good for you.

Butternut Squash

Also called winter squash, this starts cropping in late August. Packed with alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, as well as vitamin C. When roasted for long enough squash will caramelise and so makes a good side dish, but for everyday it is excellent in vegetarian recipes such as curries, risottos and soup.