While I am a great believer in giving consumers more relevant information on fruit and veg, I must admit there are times when it can become confusing, especially when there are different versions of what is essentially the same product.
There is no problem with chard, for example, as the colour says it all with each shade noting its difference. Morrisons now offers the yellow variation at 50p per bunch alongside the red and Swiss varieties.
When it comes to Marks & Spencer’s growing Italian baby leaf mix, again descriptions are confusing, as it actually heralds from Yorkshire at £1.29. But there is no mistaking a new line of fresh prepared chickpeas in its Latest Discovery range at £2 per 130g.
Tying on a distinctive label is another way to highlight the difference, such as Waitrose’s Chioggia beetroot from Italy at £1.89 a bunch. The supermarket has also started stamping grown in the “authentic region” on the packaging of its Spanish Padron peppers at £1.09 for 130g, just in case we did not believe them.
Tesco, meanwhile, is continuing to woo customers to choose organic with a green and white sticker appearing on a variety of lines such as New Zealand Pink Lady at £2.50 for four.
Like other multiples, its tomatoes arrive in a variety of presentations from loose to mini-bag snack packs. However, the adoption of an elongated cardboard overwrapped carton for the plum variety is less common, coming from France at £1.50 for five.
If proof were ever needed of the international aspect of the trade and its inter-reliance, then it comes in the form of Sainsbury’s stir fry. The £1.50 per 200g pack includes peas, baby corn, Tenderstem, pak choi, chilli and lemon grass, arriving from Peru, India, Zambia, Thailand and the UK.
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