Food blogging has become increasingly popular. I set up the UK Food Bloggers Association in 2007, and recently set up a new social networking site for the association. In just a few weeks it's attracted over 250 members. It's great to see everyone chatting away enthusiastically about food, cooking and blogging. Non-bloggers are welcome to join in too and become friends of the UKFBA.

Which fruit and vegetables should people be buying at the moment?

You should try to buy fruit and vegetables when they're in season as they'll taste so much better, and are much cheaper. Try an imported strawberry in January and then a British one in June and you'll think you're eating a totally different fruit. If you buy home-grown fruit and veg then you're reducing the air miles it has to travel which means it will be fresher and sweeter tasting. This is especially true of things like asparagus and peas.

Right now the in-season stars of the moment include Jersey Royal potatoes, watercress, spring onions, pea shoots and asparagus; all absolutely delicious and great in spring salads.

Root veg keeps well if stored in a cool, dark place. Soft fruits don't keep so well and should be eaten soon after buying.

What should I look for when buying fruit and veg?

The fruit and veg you buy should look fresh and 'just-picked' with bright colours and no yellowing or browning and no wilted leaves. Generally it should be firm, not bendy, and you don't want any bruises. But don't be fooled into buying perfectly shaped specimens; these can be more expensive just because they sit pretty on the supermarket shelves, but they're unlikely to taste any better.

I think it's important to support local greengrocers; if we don't they will go out of business which would be a real shame. You're likely to find locally grown produce, but don't assume that everything is local, or even British, just because it's in a greengrocers. Don't be afraid to ask where the produce has come from.

Generally home grown fruit and veg that's in season is cheaper than imported produce or that which is out of season as there is so much of it available when it's in season. However do beware when there's high demand for something, such as British asparagus which is in season right now, as sellers sometimes put prices up to take advantage of this, so do shop around.

I personally prefer to buy fresh where possible but the one vegetable I do use frozen is peas. Peas are frozen within hours of picking, so they retain their natural sweetness and are actually fresher than most you can buy that haven't been frozen, with the exception being when they're bang in season and you can buy them in their pods. A bag of frozen peas is really handy to keep in the freezer; they'll liven up lots of meals when you haven't got much in. Pea frittata anyone?