Vegging out

As the price of food skyrockets, here’s some help in tracking down bargain beetroot and low-cost lemons in the city…

To keep the cost of our veggies down the government has changed vegetable law (yes there was a law of the veg!) this means that you'll be seeing more nobbly carrots and bulbas peppers scattering the markets and superstores. With more misshapen veggies onto the shelves it should mean food gets cheaper, but as politicians play with laws and policies to try and save us money at the supermarkets there are more ways we can save money on our greens. Hit the street and grab some market produce.

Brixton Market  - This Afro-Caribbean market at the culturally diverse and recently gentrified south London centre is an excellent place to begin a quest for cheap fruit and veg.  There’s a large selection ranging from standard British veg to yams, pumpkins and prickly pairs.  Prices are competitive and bit of asking around could get you some especially misshapen fruit at an extra low price.

Spittalfields Market - Spittalfields started out back in 1682 and used to be London’s main wholesale fruit and veg market.   Now it might look like it’s more about fashion and flowers, but there are still vegetable bargains to be had!  Try and source nearly-out-of-date fruit for making smoothies and buy vegetables in bulk to freeze.

London farmers’ markets - Another good place to pick up freshly plucked potatoes and cabbages which have only just been ripped out of the ground is at London’s Farmers’ Markets.

These take place all over London including, Wimbledon Park , Fulham , Pimlico Road , and Notting Hill .