Crop update: October

Stuart Lawson, produce technical manager at fresh produce supplier Reynolds, reviews availability for the weeks ahead

Courgettes are proving tricky just now, as the early Spanish season is only just beginning to get under way and the UK outdoor crop is coming to a premature end due to the rain and the sudden drop in temperatures.

Outside the UK, Costa Rica is starting to report extreme shortages in production of pineapples, primarily due to a late natural flowering caused by an extended rainy season. Availability will remain tight throughout September.

The UK apple harvest is progressing well and hopes are for a good season, although not quite as fruitful as last year. British pears will start shortly too, and excellent fruit quality is anticipated.