I have a feeling that even citrus technologists would initially have been stumped by an arrival on Tesco’s shelves before the holiday, writes David Shapley.

Hands up anyone who knows anything about Dragon Citrus, as it is labelled. It looks like an orange and is priced at 99p for a net of two.

I say looks like an orange, although the variety is Huyou, and the source is China.

What is equally intriguing is that the packaging describes the taste as “a unique blend of orange and grapefruit creating a refreshing fusion of flavours”.

Back down to earth, and Egypt has become an established source for organic 67-76 mm Valencia oranges (4 for £1.24).

And despite the weight of stone fruit coming forward from South Africa and Chile, Argentina has also been able to get in the frame with punnets of September Snow peaches at £1.79.

Exotics are always of interest, particularly when they cease to be regarded as such. I remember when avocados and kiwifruit fitted neatly into this category before they both became mainstream lines.

Mangoes seem to be moving in the same direction, although I suspect most consumers still get confused with the range of varieties and colours that are available.

So with the hundreds of different types, I have always wondered why Indian Alphonso has achieved the sobriquet of the King of Mangoes -- something I learned at a splendid press evening a couple of years ago at a top curry house in London.

Perhaps one of the results of the PR exercise is that Marks & Spencer is selling the variety in a twin pack for £2.99. And just as interesting is the fruit’s appearance in Ripe and Ready packs - albeit with somewhat small lettering.

Both the sub-continent and the Far East have also been the catalyst for the arrival of more and more speciality packs that contain everything you need to make an exotic dish. One of the largest I have seen was in Waitrose with six ingredients: okra, red onion, lime, ginger, coriander, and birds eye chilli.

Nearer home, warmer weather on the Continent seems to have done wonders for product availability in the vegetable trade. However, Morrisons broccoli and cauliflower packs (£1.28) share mixed parentage combining Spanish and French product.

And while the mushroom world has been more concerned over the impact that Poland may have as a competitive source, Sainsbury’s is sourcing from Germany, with a 250g punnet priced at 66p.

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