Variety has always been the spice of life, and no more so than in the fresh produce industry, where more and more lines are being given full recognition of not just where they are grown and by whom, but also exactly what they are.

While the classic cases of this are on apples and citrus, the trend is moving through the ranks and I note that Tesco is now distinguishing between its different types of sweet potato - which only a few years ago, because of its uninspiring shape, colour and virtually total lack of branding on the shelf, tended to get lost among the winter roots and spuds.

Honduras seems to the source leading the way, with both a white-fleshed Bushbok about six inches long priced at £1.99/kg, as well as one called Spudzilla at £1.69 - which, as the name implies, is comparatively giant.

If you think they look similar when they are in fact different, the same could be said of arrivals of Golden Delicious. Recently, I commented on Marks & Spencer’s drive to create enthusiasm by labelling the fruit as a “Sweeter Selection”, at £1.79. Two weeks later, a four-tray of “Sunkissed Blush” fruit has arrived, at £1.49.

Pushing the limits has always been part of marketing and if you want to know the best Brazilian mango available year round, according to M&S, it is a variety called Palmer, which it claims is the ripest and sweetest because it is left in the orchard longer.

It is amazing what you can find by keeping your eyes open. I wonder how many shoppers read the label to discover that the respected soft-fruit grower Angus Davison also has interests producing raspberries in South Africa. Yet this is the message proclaimed loud and clear on punnets of South African fruit, priced at two for £5. The farm, says M&S, is at Hemel-an-Ararde, near the Atlantic side of the country.

The same source is now seeing its stonefruit season in full swing, far removed from the time a few years ago when a few white Peregrine peaches arrived by sea in time for the holidays and, despite often being rock hard, were sold as a luxury. Today, we have much more on offer, such as Unico nectacots only available at M&S, with six fruits priced at £2.99.

Meanwhile, even the more mundane can be given a fresh twist. While visiting Booths, which enjoys a quality reputation in the North, I came across strings of onions. Not that unusual, except that they were mixed red and brown - something which has still to percolate further south.

And finally, as Christmas is just around the corner, what about a party game. If there is a gap between serving the turkey and the plum pudding, why not ask everyone what is the colour of watercress? There is a chance for a few bets on the side, for while most people will unhesitatingly say “green”, Sainsbury’s has come up with a red variety in a 120g watercress, spinach and rocket salad bag, suitably branded for the festive season, at £1.79.

And one of the best ideas I have come across this year is Tesco’s concept of pick ‘n’ mix tomatoes. They even have a special bag to make the suggestion stick in the mind, which lists the attributes of cherry/baby plum, large plums and cherry on-the-vine fruits.

Topics