Spring is now with us - thank heavens -  and the star of this month is English asparagus. The traditional start of the season is April 23rd, St George's Day. 

It looks like it will be a decent season. Most white asparagus tends to come from the Continent; purple asparagus starts later than green. 

Wild garlic is full season and starting to bud then flower in warmer areas of the UK.

Yorkshire forced rhubarb is atill available but will be superseded by the outdoor crop as the weather warms.

For another taste of spring, peas from Italy and Spain are here. But - as you can see from the photo - it's always best to check their size in the pod. 

Broad beans are eating well.

Jersey Royal potatoes are well-priced. Mids and wares grade with chats / pearls to follow. 

This is the last month for blood oranges from Italy and Spain.

Leafy oranges and lemons are still in season this month, along with nardicotts (late season clementines). But note that the European citrus season is tailing off. 

Berries are getting stronger this month. Right now, strawberries are from the Continent - including Gariguettes and Frais de Bois. Blueberries and raspberries are typically from Spain and Morocco. 

April is good month for UK-grown leeks, purple sprouting broccoli and spring greens. In fact, most brassicas are available but some are arriving from Europe. Hispi greens, for example, are typically grown in Portugal.

This is Cavolo Nero from the same part of the world.

UK watercress and French artichokes are a good call. There is a wide range of tomatoes on the Market but we have not yet seen the first of the English greenhouse crop. 

Courgettes are from the warmer parts of Europe - but all varieties currently available. 

Most of the bitter leaves are coming to an end, such as the radicchios, puntarella and cime di rapa. English apples and pears are all but over, although you will find boxes of Braeburn out of cold store. 

Monk's beard is still available this month. 

For mushrooms, these are the cultivated King Oyster. 

St George's mushrooms will appear this month for its short season. Morels are still mainly cultivated from China but wild Turkish will be along soon.

See you in May for our next Market Report.