it is now back to normal after the holiday, but over this period I noticed that availability on many shelves seemed to be down to virtually zero between Christmas and New Year.

Whether that was due to hand-to-mouth ordering, or a lack of distribution only the records will show, but it seemed all too commonplace for my liking.

Meanwhile, before any reader reaches the erroneous conclusion that I have been touring the multiples across the Channel, despite its labelling, the pack of Eschalions, shown right, was actually discovered in Lidl.

I wonder how many customers wondered what Eschalions are and might have mistaken them for onions? They might have been even more confused when on the rear of the pack, priced at 49p, the product was described as “banana shallots”.

I have noticed before that Lidl often imports packs printed in other languages. Nevertheless, there is an interesting information feature on the back of this pack that could prove valuable as a means of increasing onion consumption as it highlights the various types and their uses.

And while on labels, it seems that the number just grows and grows.

Co-op bananas are a case in point, when it comes to Fairtrade fruit from the Windwards at 73p ( £1.25 kg).

Apart from two logos proclaiming their point of difference, it was the first time I have noticed information on the calorie, salt and fat content of the fruit, and if this was not enough 5-A-DAY made its appearance alongside, although not the “official” logo designed at some considerable cost by the government.

And there are more examples this week of retailers continuing to show imagination when it comes to descriptions. There was a time when a pre-pack of onions, carrots, a potato and a leek was, perhaps unimaginatively, universally called a stew-pack.

But the marketing team has been at work in Somerfield, on the modern 400g equivalent at £1.49. I must admit that chunky vegetables sounds a lot more consumer-friendly.

One of the ingredients in the new Tesco stir-fry at £1.79 for 250g caught my eye - Chinese chives.

Perhaps someone can explain the difference between these and ordinary chives?

Meanwhile, I am finding it increasingly difficult to come to terms with the term “new” when it comes to produce.

There are doubtless many cases but here are some examples: Concorde pears have been around for some time now as an alternative to Comice and Conference, but Marks & Spencer, at £1.99 for a four-pack, describes them as having a “new” crunchy flavour.

In the same store Tentation is labelled as a new variety although I must have seen it a decade ago.

And just to show that I am not being singe-minded, in Tesco there are new Marzano plum tomatoes (£1.59 for 250g), which the label extols as traditionally grown in Italy - although these are sourced from Spain.

At least I have no argument with dragon citrus which is back on the shelf after first appearing last year.

The Chinese citrus called Huyou - at 99p for two - made its first appearance last year, and really is a cross between an orange and a grapefruit, and not a mythical fire-breathing citrus creature after all.

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