The fruit went on sale at £1.49 each this week. The count size is an eight, compared with the traditional 12-14.

Simon Curry, European manager of Westfalia, which bred the fruit, said it will be available for about five weeks 'It is different from the traditional Hass, and also grows very large fruit,' he said. 'Another characteristic is that it is less likely to discolour when cut.' Meanwhile, projections for the Mediterranean crop point towards there being a shortage of the green Fuerte variety grown in Spain and Israel. According to trade sources availability compared with last season, a normal crop year, could be slashed by half.

Topics