1st April 2025

Peas and broad beans are a big story this month. These are eating beautifully and are typically French and Spanish. Italian nettles also in season.

The traditional start of the UK asparagus season is April 23rd. Right now, we are offering both English and French green asparagus. White is from the Loire Valley. Purple asparagus and French wild asparagus also start this month.

Wild garlic is starting to bud. This is the best time to be using it before it flowers and the intensity of flavour starts to wane.

It is buzzing on the berry front, with the first Tulameen raspberries from uber-grower Panach in France. Strawberries have started with excellent Gariguettes. Also the early varieties Clery and Ciflorette. We are also working frais de bois grown by Arzagot near Malaga in Spain.

Potatoes include Jersey Royals (mids / ware) plus French new potatoes from Noirmoutier and Île de Ré. Also Linzer Delikatess.

Tomatoes and courgettes are both well underway but more on these next month. Varieties of tomato include Yoom, Marmande and Noire de Crimée.

Green almonds have begun. Artichokes are switching to France.

English purple sprouting broccoli is very good, grown in Norfolk.

Salads from the premium French grower Beausse will start this month. We’ve also founds a new supply of sorrel in Rungis - intense but with an almost sweet finish.

European citrus is winding down so this is the last month for blood oranges and bergamot. Italian leafy lemons will last a bit longer.

No good melons at the moment but these will start soon.

We bid ‘au revoir’ - or ‘arrivederci’ - to all the bitter leaves from Italy, such as puntarelle, cime di rapa, Tardivo and pink radicchios. Moving forward, only Treviso available - along with English. Castelfranco is available but not at its best. Agretti should be here for April but coming to an end too. Our exclusive teardrop or snow peas will also finish this month.