Here's What's in Season in April with an April produce guide you can use as a quick reference guide when you visit your favorite Farmers Market!
It's the month of April and spring has officially sprung! The good news is that with the colder months behind us, the start of spring means that there is plenty of in-season produce.
This seasonal produce guide will help you choose some new additions for your meals and there are recipes at the end of this post to give you an idea for different ways to incorporate some of them in your meals!
There's no shortage of fresh produce to help you with your goals including plenty of root vegetables like potatoes and carrots, salad greens and spring vegetables that are a good source of fiber, and many different fruits that are great additions to recipes!
Shopping in season produce is a delicious way to support local farmers, the environment, your taste buds, and your health. Plus, it gives you a chance to try new and different seasonal recipes using seasonal food which vary depending on the time of year. While some produce is available year-round, many nutritious and tasty fruits and vegetables and other winter crops are at peak season in April.
As a dietitian, I love visiting the farmers market and getting intel from local farmers as to what's been harvested that week. This handy guide is great to bring to the market or grocery store with you! If you don't have a favorite market, here is a guide to Farmers' Markets in Austin.
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Health Benefits of Seasonal Eating
Eating in-season fruits and vegetables where you live often means eating them right after they are harvested or picked. This allows them to ripen naturally on the plant until they are ready to eat which ensures peak flavor and nutrition. Freshly harvested fruits and vegetables are higher in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than those that have been transported or sitting on a grocery store shelf for a long time.
Seasonal food ensures you will get a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables! Each month brings new options that contain different vitamins and minerals and gives you nutritional diversity throughout the year.
If you live in a place without access to seasonal produce, getting the nourishment you need comes first. Eating frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are a great way to add nutrition to your daily intake, too!
Benefits of Seasonal Eating on the Local Economy
Purchasing local food like fresh produce at peak season from your local farmers' market is a great way to support local farmers and food producers in your area. It also supports the local economy where you live! The money spent there is invested in other small businesses in the community.
Your best bet for seasonal eating is to shop at local farmers' markets. It will vary depending on the weather and environment where you live.
Environmental Benefits of Eating Seasonally
By eating seasonal fruit and veggies, you can decrease your carbon footprint. This is because the transportation process to get produce around the globe uses all different kind of vehicles from shipping trucks to boats. There is a large amount of gas and carbon emissions in the process of the transportation of food.
So without further ado, here is a list of What's in Season in April
What's in Season in Texas in April
From cruciferous vegetables and root veggies to leafy greens and citrus fruit which are a great source of vitamins, there are some great options to add to your April menu and grocery list! Here is your April Produce Guide:
- Artichoke
- Arugula
- Asparagus
- Basil
- Beans (green beans and purple)
- Beets & Beet Greens
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Broccolini
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Cilantro
- Citrus
- Collard Greens
- Cucumbers
- Daikon
- Dill
- Endive
- Fennel
- Green Garlic
- Guavas
- Kiwis
- Kohlrabi
- Mangoes
- Nectarines
- New Potatoes
- Papayas
- Parsnips
- Peaches
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Red Potatoes
- Rhubarb
- Scallion
- Strawberries
- Sweet Potatoes
- Turnips
- Yukon Gold Potatoes
Seasonal Recipes for April
April is a good time to visit the local markets because it's growing season for so many options to create delicious recipes with all the different varieties of veggies & fruits! Whether you are hosting an event or are looking for tasty recipes that make a great addition for your weekly meal planning, I hope you enjoy these recipe ideas!
Smashed Potato Salad
This Crispy Smashed Potato Salad with a creamy dressing is a fun twist on classic potato salad! Perfect for a summer BBQ or family gatherings! Instead of soft potatoes typically used in potato salad, you'll make crispy potatoes by smashing them on a baking sheet and roasting them until they're golden brown.
Simple recipe swaps like replacing sour cream and mayo traditionally added to regular potato salad with a mixture of olive oil mayo and Greek yogurt cuts down the amount of calories and saturated fats. It also adds nutrients like probiotics for gut health, protein, and calcium. You still get the creamy consistency. And the star of the show - the smashed potatoes - really shine through!
Carrot Cucumber Salad
This Carrot Cucumber Salad is the perfect side dish or light snack with a balance of spicy & sweet! It's a simple salad that's full of nutrition and a great way to get in lots of fresh vegetables.
This Cucumber Carrot Salad is a refreshing side dish, but it isn't a meal by itself. The best way to make it a balanced meal is to add protein and carbohydrates! I suggest serving it with Honey Garlic Salmon Bites, shrimp, or chicken breast. Make it vegan using a plant-protein. Tofu, edamame, or Roasted Chickpeas pair great with the flavors in this recipe. Add your favorite grain, rice, pasta, or a slice of crusty sourdough.
Chickpea Salad with Cucumber
This Greek inspired Chickpea Cucumber Salad is a great meal prep recipe for a weekday lunch - so full of flavor, nutritient-rich, and ready in 10 minutes! Protein-packed chickpeas are combined with crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, fresh herbs, and creamy feta cheese. All tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette made with some favorite pantry staples.😊
Dietitian Tip: Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are the main ingredient in this healthy snack. They provide dietary fiber for gut health and 12g of plant-based protein per cup! And legumes like chickpeas are also high in vitamins B6 and B12 which have been shown to support brain health. Make it easy to incorporate legumes into your eating pattern by meal prepping recipes that taste amazing like this one!
Green Goddess Chicken Salad
This Green Goddess Chicken Salad recipe is a unique spin on classic chicken salad and a great way to use up leftover herbs! Creamy homemade green goddess dressing is combined with rotisserie chicken for a flavorful and nutritious meal ready in just 10 minutes. It's SO easy to make - perfect meal prep for weekday lunches. I hope you love it as much as I do! 😊
Dietitian Tip: It seems basic, but it's so easy to forget that when it comes to sticking with healthy eating, having easy lunches like chicken salad meal prepped and ready to go is so helpful. Especially on busy days. And healthy recipes that taste great like this Green Goddess Chicken Salad are key to making mealtime truly enjoyable! 😊
Nourish Bowl with Roasted Veggies
This Easy Nourish Bowl recipe is one of my favorite ways to get in a lot of nutrition with optimal flavor! Perfectly roasted cauliflower and carrots get combined with sweet potato and crispy chickpeas - all topped off with a creamy tahini yogurt dressing to amplify the flavor.
Dietitian Tip: Designate a day of the week for chopping vegetables so you have them ready to snack on or to use in recipes like this when dinnertime rolls around. This makes it more likely you will use the vegetables you buy! Habit stack by turning on your favorite playlist or podcast or spend time catching up with a friend during your designated "chopping power hour".
In Conclusion
Using seasonal fruits and vegetables is a great way to nourish your body, protect the planet, and support local farmers and businesses in your community. In April in North America, it's a great time to buy local produce for healthy recipes to give your nutrition a good start at the beginning of the year!
Whether you shop at local farmers' markets, local grocery stores, or online market, look for some of these fruits and vegetables that are in season in April and get in the kitchen to try out a new recipe! 😊
And remember, if you live in a place without access to seasonal produce, getting the nourishment you need comes first. Eating frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are a great way to add nutrition to your daily intake, too.
References: Texas Real Food, Texas Farmers Market, Farm to Table TX, University of Maryland Medical System, Seasonal Food Guide, WebMD
Looking for more seasonal produce guides?
Here are some you may enjoy!
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