In season

ENGLISH

Duke of York potatoes

Best when picked young, this historic variety is only available for a short time. They're grown in a special way to ensure a sweet, rich potato.

Duke of York potatoes deserve...

tossing with flaked smoked mackerel, creme fraiche, olive oil and a little horseradish.

ENGLISH

Cherries

Our English cherries are grown in the traditional orchard areas of Herefordshire and Kent. Look out for pretty yellow Rainier cherries, too, from Washington State, USA.

Cherries deserve...

dipping in melted dark chocolate for decadent nibbles. For more ideas see summer Seasons magazine, in branch now.

Cantaloupe melons

Delicious Cantaloupe melons £1.99 have firm orange flesh that's exceptionally sweet and fragrant. Ours have Idicazione Geographica Protetta (IGP) status, which means they're grown to strict quality standards in a specific region of Italy. This month you caould win a holiday in Sicily when you buy our Italian cantaloupe melons; look out for the stickers.

Cantaloupe melons deserve...

serving with proscuitto crudo, marinated artichokes, chargrilled peppers and borettane onions.

SPANISH

Piel de Sapo melons

Spanish Piel de Sapo melons £2.49 get their name (which means 'toad skin') from their rough, dark green skins. Naturally sweet, their fragrant, pale cream flesh has a distinctive, delicate flavour.

Piel de Sapo melons deserve...

to be transformed into a refreshing chilled soup. Whizz cubes in a food processor with a little sweet sherry and lemon juice, then chill and serve in small glasses with a drizzle of lemon-infused olive oil and black pepper. Chic and simple - perfect for summer entertaining.

ENGLISH

Beetroot

Fresh beetroot has a sweet, earthy taste, quite different to pickled varieties. Boil or bake until tender then peel and serve hot or cold, or grate raw beetroot into salads.

Beetroot deserves...

roasting with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a little clear honey.

ENGLISH

Yelor Charentais melon

Developed exclusively for Waitrose, ur Yelor Charentais Melons £2.29 are hand-picked with care at the peak of perfection. Their yellow-green skin hides deliciously fragrant, deep orange flesh, with a fantastic flavour. Sweet and juicy, they're great as they are, or enjoy in salads or desserts.

Yelor Charentais melon deserves...

cutting into cubes and mixing with salty, crumbled feta cheese, sprigs of aromatic Greek basil and cracked black pepper.

Galia melons

Yellow-skinned Galia melons £1.99 are juicy and aromatic, with intensely flavoured, pale cream to green, smooth-textured flesh. Their yellow skin has a fine, netting-like texture.

Galia melons deserve...

pairing with juicy prawns, dressed with honey, melon juice and warming, spicy grated ginger.