What's in Season in April?

California strawberries arrive alongside peak asparagus, sweet peas, and the year’s first rhubarb.

April is when California strawberries hit their stride, and they stay abundant into early summer. Strawberries are among the most nutrient-dense fruits for the calories — a vitamin C standout that makes an easy swap for processed desserts. Rhubarb, their classic pie partner, has its short season now through June.

Asparagus and artichokes are at full peak, and the first sugar snap peas appear — sweet enough to eat raw and a source of plant protein, fiber, and vitamin C. With farmers markets reopening across much of the country, April is the natural month to rebuild meals around vegetables after a winter of storage crops.

April Seasonal Produce at a Glance

Produce	Peak Season	Nutrition & Buying Notes
Strawberries	Apr–Jun (CA peak)	Vitamin C standout among fruits; buy bright red and eat within a few days
Asparagus	Mar–May	Peak month for flavor and price; excellent folate source
Artichokes	Mar–May	Fiber and prebiotic inulin support gut health; steam whole and eat leaf by leaf
Sugar snap peas	Apr–Jun	Sweet, crunchy pods with fiber, vitamin C, and plant protein; great raw
Rhubarb	Apr–Jun	Tart stalks with fiber and vitamin K; always cook, and never eat the leaves
Baby spinach	Mar–Jun	Folate, magnesium, and potassium in one tender green
Romaine lettuce	Mar–May	Crisp and hydrating; more vitamin A than iceberg
White button mushrooms	Year-round	A farmers-market staple; provides B vitamins and umami depth to spring dishes

Nutrients to Focus on in April

Vitamin C — Strawberries and snap peas take over from citrus as the season’s top sources
Folate — Asparagus and spinach peak now — key for cell renewal and prenatal health
Dietary Fiber — Artichokes, peas, and rhubarb feed a healthy gut microbiome

Simple Recipe Ideas for April

Strawberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing

Ingredients

・3 cups baby spinach
・1 cup sliced strawberries
・Red onion, thinly sliced
・Toasted pecans
・Poppy seed or balsamic dressing

Nutrition note: Vitamin C from strawberries boosts absorption of the non-heme iron in spinach — a classic pairing that works nutritionally, not just visually.

Spring vegetable pasta primavera

Ingredients

・8 oz whole-grain pasta
・1 cup asparagus pieces
・1 cup sugar snap peas
・Lemon, olive oil, parmesan
・Fresh herbs

Nutrition note: Blanch the vegetables briefly so they stay crisp and keep more of their water-soluble vitamins. Whole-grain pasta adds fiber to round out the meal.

Top Foods for April's Key Nutrients (Live Data)

Foods from USDA FoodData Central ranked by the nutrients worth focusing on in April, per 100g.

Foods highest in Vitamin C

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1. Kale - NFY1214SU477mg
2. Kale - NFY1212EX422mg
3. Kale, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt418mg
4. Kale - NFY1214RH410mg
5. Kale, raw390mg
6. Kale - NFY1212E0378mg

Foods highest in Dietary Fiber

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