I've already touched on the launch of Supasweet onions, but while driving to the onion fields of Bedfordshire, I came across an attractive prepack, which reflects the fact that the product is not entirely in the hands of the multiples.

Grower and packers FB Parrish & Son have also come up with a local product which is being sold in a range of outlets from farm shops to local village stores.The more the merrier when it comes to giving consumers the message, and itshows that multiples don't have it all their own way.

Talking of packaging, nets of Jaffa citrus in Sainsbury's caught my eye recently, carrying the slogan "easy peeler oranges" There has always been some debate on just how peelable oranges are, although in fairness the description, many experts would agree, would fit shamoutis, and possibly even Navels. In this case however the variety was Valencia Late which in my view might be stretching the imagination.

Looking round the branches this week there is no doubt that most multiples have had an amazing soft fruit season which continues to run on and on, with good results for raspberries and blueberries now coming through alongside strawberries.

Summer fruit and cream in the summer is one of those natural combinations, and has wider connotations. Years ago, for instance, Geest bananas did a deal with Cow and Gate who printed a banana on the tops of their little jars of product.

The real breakthrough is actually getting it together in the same way that sachets of salad dressing are common place in bagged lettuce.

Well, it would appear that Marks & Spencer has come up with an answer. Visiting the Royal Show recently I noted a specially designed one portion

tub full of cut fruit with a portion of cream literally screwed into the base.

It will be interesting to see where it is positioned, as innovative packaging has almost turned this prepared sector into the delicatessen range.

The summer weather has also been a boon to salad sales and has helped all the various ingredients. In this sense the new Waitrose Summer Blush radish pack which contains a mix of colours and tastes will have been no exception.

The fact that they are all separately bunched which improves the presentation even more and is another example of how segmentation continues to be a driving force to add value and making shopping more interesting.

Apparently, these multicoloured bunches are grown in Kent and harvested by hand. with emphasis on taste as well as presentation. The red bulb is crisp and fresh; the purple slightly nutty, a bit like a sweet turnip; with the white being more peppery.

Also available in the same store was Victoria Leaf celery presented similarly to how the crop used to be traditionally sold on the wholesale markets. The description also refers to the variety which is still being grown from July to October on an exclusive basis by G's.

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