Stonefruit from the Mediterranean is now pouring in, arriving from every location and in all shapes and sizes, but this has not deterred retailers from looking for something different.

The public may have got used to yellow and white-fleshed peaches and nectarines, but Tesco has introduced shoppers to Spanish yellow-skinned Maria Dorata nectarines at £2.99 for four.

New hybrids also keep on arriving, with Waitrose stocking Tiger apricots from Israel at £3.99 for seven, while exclusivity is also the name of the game with a strawberry appropriately called English Rose at £2.99 for 250g.

Greengages appeared to be making a comeback last season, and the trend is obviously catching on again in Budgens, where this traditional English fruit, more unusually, is sourced from Greece with a 250g punnet carrying 15 fruit for £1.

Variety names are now part and parcel of marketing and have extended far beyond fruit. I have a feeling that there might be some confusion over lychees at M&S. The new season arrivals are sourced in Israel, and correctly identified as the Mauritius variety. Coincidentally, the island itself is also known as a source.

Limes are now regularly on the citrus counter, although colour varies from deep green to pale yellow. In the organic range, Mexico is making a showing with unwaxed fruit at Sainsbury’s at £1.50 for four.

Topicality always comes to the fore, and as the world’s sportsmen and women prepare, M&S has come up with Athlete new potatoes, grown in Cornwall at £1.99/kg, or two for £3.

Adding value to salads is also all the rage with Waitrose selling traditional English-grown organic ridged cucumbers at £1.39 each, and an upmarket BLT bag in the Steve’s Leaves brand. -