As the days shorten and the air takes on that crisp autumn edge, the farm is buzzing with colour and abundance. Harvest is in full swing, and we’ve plenty to share from the fields this month.

But first, we're thrilled to share some exciting news – Flourish Produce has been named a finalist in the BBC Food and Farming Awards! We're named in the 'Best Food Producer' category and it’s an incredible honour to be recognised among so many inspiring growers and producers across the UK. There were 250 nominations in our category alone so to have made it to the finals is wonderful - thank you to all of you who put us forward. This nomination feels like a celebration not only of our crops, but also of the whole team’s hard work, resilience, and passion. We will be sure to let you know when the interview with Calixta gets aired on BBC Radio 4 Food Programme. The winner will be announced on 18th November in Bristol, so fingers crossed!

Back on the farm, we’ve just brought in the very last of the onions – and what a year it has been for them! The harvest has been beautiful, and the varieties we’ve grown should keep us going well beyond Christmas.

We’ve bought new storage bins for our squash – shiny, pristine, and ready to be filled with this year’s bumper crop. Despite a challenging start to the season, it has turned out to be an incredible year.

The first varieties coming in are onion-type squash, along with striking Blue Kuri (a grey-blue kabocha type from Japan), and of course, colourful favourites like Harlequin and Celebration. We’ve also trialled some unusual varieties from further afield – not quite ready yet, but we’re excited to see what flavours they bring in the months ahead.

In the tunnels, we’re saying goodbye to tomatoes and peppers and preparing for the winter months ahead. We’re working hard to make sure we have an array of herbs going into the winter tunnels, as well as mustards, indoor radicchio, and even pink celery – a February highlight we can’t wait to share. Careful planning this year should mean an even better variety of winter salads and greens.