Welcome to the April Seasonal Produce Roundup! Find out what’s in season this month. Find out what’s great quality, great value and great for the environment. It’s April Fool’s Day today: I’m sure there has been some hilarious stuff on the TV, radio, web already…

Spring has well and truly sprung in the UK and spring is starting to work its magic on UK fruit and vegetables. Cauliflower (see main pic) is here with its very beautiful tight, white flowers and is super versatile. It cooks quickly and is stunning roasted or raw in salads.

If you want to find out exactly what is in season in the UK at the moment check out my FREE Seasonal Produce Posters. There are two posters you can save and/ or print to use as quick reference guides for UK Seasonal Produce. Click the button below to sign-up and download.

Why Eat Seasonally?

There are so many reasons to eat seasonal food. That is, food that is seasonal to your country or region.

1. Seasonal food requires less human interference. For example food grown out of season is highly likely to require poly-tunnels (and other similar temporary structures and materials), heat, excessive water, fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides and so on. Seasonal food is cheaper and better for the environment.

2. Seasonal food has less distance to travel to get you your plate. Therefore it is fresh and better for the environment

3. Seasonal food tastes better and is better quality. This is because it is growing in conditions it is meant to grow in. Temperature, humidity, sunshine, water etc. Less waste and better taste.

Isn’t Eating Seasonally Difficult?

No!!! But, I get that you might think that it’s hard.

The UK is very lucky to have good seasonal crops most of the year and when some crops are not in season they store really well (e.g. root vegetables, apples etc.) so they are available for a large part of the year. However, most of the roundup here applies to much of the northern hemisphere. There are, of course local crops that it would just be too difficult (and lengthy) to add all produce and all timings to the list but you can still use these lists as a guide throughout the northern hemisphere.

However, not all parts of the UK are able to grow crops this could be due to ground conditions or climate. The UK is fairly small so transport around parts of the UK is pretty straightforward.

Eating seasonal food does not need to be prescriptive, awareness of what is in season (and good value) where you live can be enlightening and make meal planning easy.

When crops are in season they are cheap, plentiful and taste amazing. That is the time to buy them and freeze them. Especially fruit. Frozen food is AMAZING and is a really great way to get high quality fruit and veg throughout the year.

April Seasonal Produce Roundup – What Is In Season

Spring is here at last to warm us up from the cold, dark and damp winter months but the bounty of fruit and vegetables is still in the ground and on the trees. Produce needs a little more sun and warmth to be its best.

April Seasonal Produce Roundup – Fruit

Seasonal fruit is pretty low (to zero) in April. Cherries are coming in to season but won’t be at their best until July.

April Seasonal Produce Roundup – Herbs

Herbs seasonality sees chives start to crop along with bay and winter savory. Bay is a pretty brilliant addition to any casserole.. Wild nettles are available and I can heartily recommend nettle soup with fresh grated nutmeg.

April Seasonal Produce Roundup – Vegetables

Vegetables are starting to pop up. Look out for edible flowers – amazing in salads and spicy radishes. Available April seasonal vegetables (and they will vary according to region) include

• Cauliflower – so versatile, raw, steamed, riced, roasted or in Cauliflower, Almond and Nutmeg Soup
• Celeriac – fabulous roasted and made in to a silky soup and really, really wonderful in Celeriac Caper and Rocket Salad
• Cress: mustard/ mixed – always available, what more do you need to top off a salad
• Cucumber – hello cucumber! There is nothing better than in-season cucumber. Try it in Cucumber, Seaweed and Carrot Salad
• Edible flowers – lots available from borage to nasturtium a striking addition to any salad, the tastes are amazing
• Kale – sooo fashionable… great steamed and served with toasted sesame seeds and a dash of tamari and really great in Broccoli, Kale and Pea Salad
• Mushrooms: button / cup /flat (cultivated), enoki (Cultivated), morel (wild), oyster (cultivated), pied bleu (cultivated), shitake (cultivated) – lots of different types with different flavours, bring out the earthy, nutty flavours in a risotto, Lentil and Mushroom Soup, or a simple stir fry
• Purple sprouting broccoli – hello new season purple sprouting, wonderful steamed and really wonderful in Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Walnut Tart
• Radishes – the mustardy hot of home grown radishes is wonderful, a simple salad is a perfect showcase
• Rocket – growing like Billy-O at the moment, mustard hot, avocado and rocket salad is wonderful
• Shallots – little bulbs of flavour, sautéd shallots form the foundations for lots of dishes, try roasting whole for soup
• Spring greens – try slicing in half and roasting with herbs for a warm salad
• Turnips – or swedes (depending on where you are from), spicy and earthy, wonderful in Gluten Free Vegan Haggis, soups, get them with the tops on and use the tops as greens.

This month I am crazy about cauliflower!!! Raw, cooked, pickled – I adore it all ways. What’s your favourite thing this month??? Drop your thoughts in the comments below or on social media.