However, the Authority takes no part in the actual trade of the Market, nor in the enforcement of grading and quality standards, which are the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture's inspectors. Thousands of tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables from all corners of the world are delivered to the Fruit and Vegetable Market each day. The range of buyers is equally diverse - it includes secondary wholesalers, retailers and institutional suppliers. In fact, New Covent Garden is both a national and a regional market. Secondary wholesalers resell produce in many distant regions, but London and the SouthEast remain the Market's primary sales area and the UK's most important region for food sales.
Traders handle produce sent by both domestic and overseas suppliers or growers.
It has been purpose-built for fast and efficient handling of the produce. This is achieved by providing walkways through each of the two buildings. Situated at the eastern end of the main fruit and vegetable buildings, the Pavilion was originally built for UK growers to sell their own produce from lorries. Delivery of supplies to the Fruit and Vegetable Market is made from 2300 hrs on weekdays and from midnight on Sundays. Trading begins around 0200 hrs and continues to about 1100 hrs, six days a week, although the trade on Saturday is usually small.