The tradition of DIY marmalade is obviously still alive and well, with Tesco providing an eye-catching 1.3kg organic pack of Spanish Sevilles, plus a Primofiore Italian lemon for £3.

While the fruit is classified as Class II, fourth-generation grower Pepe Gahona still crops from over 1,000 trees that were originally planted in 1867.

Staying with citrus, Marks & Spencer is highlighting the arrival of Cara Cara Navel oranges at £2.99 for five. Also recognised for its pigmented flesh, the variety is relatively new. Discovered in 1976 on a farm of that name in Venezuela, it was released 11 years later and has since been adopted by many countries. In this particular case Turkey.

Further evidence that British growers are continuing to push the range of apple varieties is evident at Marks and Spencer with well-known grower Paul Mansfield supplying Envy at two for £4 in the Just Discovered range.

Pears have become the latest fruit to acquire increased shelf life with the adoption of the ItsFresh ethylene pad. Perhaps it is no surprise; they have the reputation for being among the most difficult products to control ripening as, unlike apples, they mature from the inside out.

The pads were found both at Waitrose, in the trays of Perfectly Ripe Italian Green Williams priced at £2.99 for four and in Sainsbury’s Belgian Conference at £2.69 for four.

It would be interesting to know if the public know where our British mushrooms are grown. At least organic grower Peter Howard in Gloucestershire makes sure his punnets of Portobello cups (£1.25/120g, £1.28/320g) and buttons (£1.20/150g) all carry a sticker proclaiming the source to be the Cotswolds. —