Marks & Spencer's Foodhall is celebrating the finest of British seasonal produce this August, with late summer delivering an abundance of homegrown fruit, flowers and vegetables.
The retailer, which works in close partnership with British farmers, says stone fruit is now entering its prime, alongside ripe berries and tomatoes at their sweetest.
Tree-ripened plums are the undisputed star of the selection, left on the branch longer than standard varieties to develop superior sweetness and juice.
M&S farmers receive specialist training to identify fruit that meets the retailer's exacting standards. The full seasonal range is available in Foodhalls nationwide now.
The Myatt family, who have been providing M&S with top-grade plums for four decades, grow the British plums now on sale at £5 for a 300g punnet.
King Cherries, meanwhile, represent the premium end of the summer fruit offering. Handpicked at M&S Select Farms, each cherry must measure at least 32mm in diameter — comfortably larger than a £2 coin — to qualify for sale.
They are positioned as the biggest available on the British market, suited equally to elegant desserts or simple snacking. A 400g box is priced at £5.
Both lines underscore the retailer's commitment to size, flavour and rigorous quality benchmarks.
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Beyond the fruit counter, M&S is showcasing its 'Flame' sunflowers — a bold variety distinguished by a notably darker centre.
Every stem is grown in Britain and hand-selected for quality, with prices starting from £5 in store.
The retailer suggests they work equally well as a home brightener or a thoughtful gift.
On the vegetable side, Isle of Wight Arlintia Vine tomatoes are reaching their flavour peak.
Ripened on the vine in what is widely regarded as the sunniest corner of Britain, they offer exceptional natural sweetness.
A 300g pack is available for £2.75, though shoppers are urged to catch them before the season ends.
The Myatt family's relationship with M&S stretches back more than four decades.
John Myatt, alongside his daughters Hannah and Alex, participates in the retailer's Plan A for Farming programme, an initiative designed to safeguard British orchards for future generations.
M&S-backed soil analysis has enabled the family to develop a more informed, long-term approach to land stewardship.
They have established flower strips and hedgerows to support bumblebees and other beneficial insects, enriching biodiversity across their orchards.
The Myatts are additionally incorporating greater volumes of organic matter into their soil, enhancing its fertility, structure and moisture retention — measures that help ensure consistently outstanding British plum season after season.
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