It’s amazing how quickly bulk carry-home packs of potatoes have caught on in the retail trade. When the idea was tested out years ago by a retailer no longer with us interest was surprisingly lacklustre.

Seemingly encouraged by the recent response to potatoes, Asda has gone a step further with 2kg red nets of Suffolk brown onions for £1.

It has also come up with a new twist when it comes to Spanish marmalade oranges, presented in a neat lathe-woven 1kg punnet, which apart from Seville oranges, contains a single lemon complete with leaves.

Staying with citrus, it is the time of year when Sicily finds a niche market for its pigmented oranges. The term “blood” has fallen out of favour, to be replaced with terms such as Ruby. However, Waitrose has decided on “Blush” with five Taroccos costing £1.99.

Spring may still be a month away, but the demand for salads is year round. Marks & Spencer has added a trademarked variety of tomato called a Mini Kumato to its Specially Selected Discovery mixed pack alongside Piccolini and Jester at two for £3. There is also a new line called Super Sprouts, a 20g mix of alfalfa, ruby radish and broccoli.

There was a time when wild rocket was hard to find, but it is now so plentiful that Morrisons has an Italian-sourced 90g twin pack for £1. Part of the pitch on the label is that it comes straight from the field, a characteristic which is also shared by the retailer selling Spanish-grown spinach at the same price - with the reminder on both that they must be washed.

No one knows what ambrosia - the nectar of the gods rather than a well-known brand of rice pudding - tastes like. So it’s a safe bet as a variety name for a new apple arriving in Waitrose from Italy.

Priced at £2.49 for four, it is described like most others as crisp, sweet and juicy, although the point of difference is that it has a delicate perfume and is equally at home in a salad or staying firm under a pie crust.

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