Despite their seasonal varieties, lemons are usually just described as lemons. Tesco, however, has come up with the Meyer at £1.95 for four, sourced in the United States.

According to purists it is actually a hybrid which is also part mandarin or orange and was imported from China to California at the beginning of the last century. Almost round, with small seeds and a soft smooth skin, it lacks aroma. The advantages are that the tree is cold resistant and fruits year round.

Meanwhile Waitrose appears to be setting a new trend by identifying oranges and easy peelers beyond Navels and Valencias. Currently it is stocking Spanish Fukumoto at 30p each, a high-quality early Navel type which originated in Japan, and Oronule clementines and Owari satsumas, both at £2.99/kg.

Raspberries are becoming increasingly popular and as a post-Christmas boost Morrisons is providing a 225g punnet of the Kweli variety from Spain for £3. What is less obvious is that it now contains an ethylene-absorbent strip courtesy of It’sFresh.

Latest Discoveries at Marks & Spencer continue to expand. There are exclusive red grapes called Magenta sourced in Peru in 400g trays at two for £4.

It has also introduced a pigmented salad potato, Gervioline, grown near the Norfolk Broads at £1.99/kg.

Germany is an unusual source at Morrisons for fennel at £1 each, with bunched black kale ticketed at the same price. Spanish-sourced lettuce at £1.20 is described simply as multi leaf.

The cucumber offer is now showing signs of segmentation beyond shrink-wrapped halves. Waitrose, which has already pioneered the traditional Ridge variety, has added mini variants grown in Spain at £1.39 for seven. —