Written by Tom Moggach
April 03, 2019

Full of asparagus this month. Wild garlic now has delicate flower buds; Jersey Royals on fine form. All in all, April is a lovely month on the market.

"Trade is more vibrant - things are picking up," agrees Leslie Singh, a market regular and buyer for delicatessen and grocers Pomona in North London.

Here he is, pictured right, with Michael Barrett at wholesaler H G Walker. "Also good are peas, broad beans and blueberries from Spain," he adds.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Les Hg Walker

For the full low-down on asparagus, see our Chef's Guide. The UK season is firing, but bear in mind the weather - a cold snap will freeze up supplies. Green, purple and white all available. There is also gorgeous 'grass from France, Italy and Spain.

Wild garlic buds now here - beautiful on the plate and often lightly pickled by chefs.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Wild Garlic Buds

Jersey Royals of all grades are in their prime.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Jersey Royals

On a similar note, sweet potatoes from the USA get a big shout this month after a visit from the Ambassador of the United States to launch their season.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Ambassador

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Sweet Potato

It's a good time for rhubarb. At time of writing, the last of the forced rhubarb was still on hand. Below is rhubarb from the Chinn family in Herefordshire - not Yorkshire-grown, but still a vibrant pink.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Forced Rhubarb

This is more classic outdoor rhubarb.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Outdoor Rhubarb

Here are some of those Spanish peas. Broad beans are also here.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Peas

This is a fabulous time for tomatoes from Italy and France in all shapes, colours and sizes. This is a pineapple tomato.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Pineapple Tomato

For soft fruits, blueberries and raspberries are flooding in from Spain. These are French frais de bois strawberries.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Frais De Bois

Dutch redcurrants are now here.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Redcurrants

From the Continent, there are specialities such as agretti, aubergines, salsify, radicchio, puntarelle, peppers, aubergines and these wild hops, known as bruscandoli in Italy.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Bruscandoli

These are lovely crunchy Breakfast radishes and round courgettes.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Breakfast Radish

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Round Courgette

The feisty Padron pepper.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Padron

And the beautiful brassica flowers of cime di rapa.

Fruit And Veg Market Report April 2019 Cime Flower

For wild mushrooms, this is the time for morels and St George. "We're in the middle of morel season and waiting for everything else to start," says Michael Hyams from The Mushroom Man.