Albert Bartlett started the ball rolling with its Purple Majesty potatoes on sale at Sainsbury’s, now backed by a glossy recipe leaflet featuring TV cook Sally Bee, but others are also getting in on the mauve-coloured fun.

The novelty appears to have caught the attention of other retailers, though I suspect I shall have to wait some time before hearing whether this niche market has been a consumer success.

Tesco’s Finest has responded by sourcing a sweet potato variety named Purple Mountain under its Nurture logo. It comes from China and is priced at £1.50 for 500g.

It’s not often I look hard to check the price when making my weekly purchases for this column, but £2.29 is really in the top range when buying a single avocado.

The attraction, however, was that the round, green smooth-skinned variety - the size and shape of a cricket ball - was identified as Ikulu.

Presented exclusively at Marks & Spencer in its Latest Discovery range, the fruit comes from a lesser known African source, namely the foothills of southern Tanzania. It is recommended as ideal for making guacamole.

While Kenya holds pride of place at this time of year for airfreighted vegetables, Tanzania coincidentally also featured at Morrisons as a source for its dwarf beans in the retailer’s value range. It is selling for £1.39 for 400g.

More and more citrus is also flowing onto the shelves as winter approaches, with children obviously targeted, as many carry token offers linked to the exploits of cartoon characters.

While Marvel Super Hero Squad first attracted my attention in Sainsbury’s on 600g nets of Clemenrubi at £1.69, also on the pack was the sub-brand Chico.

Chico was one of the best-known brands in the wholesale markets over 70 years ago, when the Mack organisation established what was to become one of the first grower partnerships.

As the South African season draws to a close, Tesco is still coming up with other varieties in its Finest orange range, with Autumn Gold, for example, selling at £2.39 for four.

And while netting is commonplace packaging for citrus, it is also more unusually presenting five red and yellow peppers in the same manner for £2.

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