Charles Dickens, writing The Pickwick Papers, immortalised the Garden of England’s reputation for apples, pears, hops and cherries, among other things. If he had been born in this century would have probably added tomatoes.

Kentish tomato Temptation, on-the-vine as part of Tesco’s Finest range at £2 for a minimum of five fruits, combines both this popular presentation and a named variety. However, any point of difference seems to be virtually lost under the own brand.

But new names and brands continue to battle through despite the the retailers’ passion for own label. One of the crops where this is becoming more evident is potatoes. This is perhaps not a bad thing when there are endless descriptions and varieties on offer at different price points, which must cause of confusion.

Asda, for example, has Albert Bartlett’s American-style Russett Potatoes, which is the Innovator variety, grown in Norfolk at £1.50/1.75kg. And on the same shelf is Scottish Kestrel at £1.50 for 2kg under the Scotty brand. Tesco’s Greenvale Farm Fresh potatoes is £2 per 2kg and has extended the idea of four-gram nets of English “Harvest Ripe” onions on offer at £1.49.

The trend has even reached US sweet potatoes, which have been making ground, despite some less-than-adequate packaging in the past. Waitrose is offering the Southern Sunshine brand, with the Evangeline variety from North Carolina at £1.89 for two.

Sainsbury’s has organic Amelie mangoes at £1.60 each or two for £2.50 from Burkina Faso in west Africa, which is inland north of Ghana. Further south on the continent, Marks & Spencer is still striding ahead with its Latest Discovery range. Among the arrivals are a black seedless South African grape called Allison at £2.99 for 400g. The flavour is described as “fantastic”. -

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