An FPJ reader asked me recently what I am looking for when I take a trip along the fresh produce aisles. The initial answer is simply anything which is new, newly sourced or presented with some originality. That is usually followed by something that may seem more esoteric, such as labelling and descriptions designed to woo shoppers.

This last aspect literally bore fruit when I became intrigued by the fact that size is increasingly coming into the equation.

Marks & Spencer is thinking small with its exclusive, perfectly ripe, baby kiwifruit from the vine, with the unique selling point that the total fruit is edible. There were also Spanish seedless baby clementines at £2.49 for 450g. The packs on display had fruit sized 41-46mm.

While on citrus, I wonder how many people can name varieties of orange beyond Navel, Valencia types, and the generic Blood. This could change, however. Tesco’s Finest range currently includes Powell - £1.99 for four fruits - grown in South Africa, but originally bred some 40 years ago in Australia as an ultra-late Navel, although it apparently has a short harvesting period.

Describing taste is also difficult, for who knows what sweet, sour or crisp means to an individual palate. Budgens, however, was taking no chances with its polybags of Braeburn at £1.89. The packs carry a total description in very large letters across the face. For the record: “Specially selected apples that are sharp and refreshing with a good balance of sweetness, they have a pale cream flesh which is crisp and juicy.” They are sourced from Germany.

At the other end of the scale, Tesco’s triangular tomato punnet, £1.09 for 300g, seems barren by comparison, being simply branded Selected and bearing the Nurture logo, officially launched to consumers this week. Other details are in small print on the back where, apart from being exclusively grown in Spain, the variety is defined as Intense Plum, and also graded as Class II.

The use of new descriptions has also received a boost as retailers seek to encourage that extra level of interest.

Again a week of extremes, with Waitrose now following the lead of Sainsbury’s and Tesco, and maybe other retailers I have not discovered, with a £5 “bundle” of vegetables and roots. The two points of difference are that the selection is in a clear plastic bag, rather than a Kraft outer, and there are even basic preparation hints and recipes. This week for your money you got 1.5kg of Mozart potatoes, 750g of carrots and 500g of parsnips grown in the UK, and a Spanish broccoli crown.

At the other end of the scale, M&S has launched a ready prepared Garden Vegetable pack at £2.49 for 240g. The contents consist of courgettes, cabbage greens, peas, spinach, fine green beans, broad beans and a pat of herb butter.

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