What is in season in the UK in April? Eating local, seasonal produce all year
As I’m typing this, the spring sunshine is pouring through the window. We’ve not had the heating on at all for a few days and it really feels like the summer months aren’t too far away. One good thing about rising temperatures and morning frosts disappearing is that more and more seasonal, local produce is becoming available. So what is in season in the UK in April and what can you make with it?
What is in season in the UK in April – fruit
We’re not quite into the plentiful summer months, but there are still a couple of UK-grown fruits that you can find in the UK in April:
- Some varieties of apples (Cox, Gala, Jazz, Braeburn)
- Rhubarb. I’ve put this in both the fruit and vegetable sections, because even though we tend to think of rhubarb as a fruit, it’s actually a vegetable.
What is in season in the UK in April – vegetables
- Artichokes (Jerusalem)
- Beetroot
- Cabbage (savoy)
- Carrots
- Chicory
- Kale
- Parsnips
- New potatoes (first crops from Cornwall, which are planted in January and ready to harvest in April)
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Spinach
- Spring greens
- Spring onions
- Watercress
Spinach has so many different uses and is packed with vitamins C and K, folic acid, iron and calcium. It can be added to pasta sauces, sauteed as a side dish or even used in pasta dough to add nutritional value and a beautiful colour to your pasta dishes. Find out how to make homemade spinach pasta here.
What’s in season in the UK in April – meat, fish & seafood.
The majority of British meats and fish are farmed year-round, but you’ll find better prices and quality by sticking to what’s in season.
Be careful to make sure that what you buy is sustainably-sourced as well as locally-produced, especially when fish is concerned. A good place to start is the Marine Conservation Society’s Good Fish Guide. It’s also good to double-check what’s available as close to you as possible. This is because fish and seafood seasons can vary slightly depending on where in the UK you live.
Here’s what’s in season in the UK in April when it comes to meat, fish and seafood:
Meat
As with fruit, British meat production is between seasons in March, so here is a little list of one seasonal meat that you can get:
- Spring lamb
- Venison
- Welsh lamb
Fish & seafood
- Clams
- Cockles
- Cod
- Dover sole
- Haddock
- Lemon sole
- Plaice
- Scallops
- Skate
If you’re looking for a truly seasonal seafood dish this April, why not try this: cod with cockles in white wine sauce.
More sustainable eating ideas
Year-round sustainable eating
To find out what’s in season every other month of the year, you can read our full series of posts here.
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