Retailers have obviously been covering their options and looking further afield with the recent cold snap, with the result that at both Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, I came across spinach from the US, priced at £1.59 for 200g and £1.49 for 235g respectively.

While Tesco was concentrating on large packs from Spain at £1.99 for 450g, what caught my eye was their black edged label with green roundel carrying the term NurTure. A further search revealed that it was popping up on several lines, ranging from English Comice and Conference pear pre-packs, to what must be a uniquely shaped, clear plastic clam shell containing five ‘Intensive’ plum tomatoes, also under the label Select Variety - Your Grower’s Choice, at £1.09.

An enquiry at the Tesco customer information desk about the meaning of this extra symbol brought little joy, but at the time of writing I am expecting news from the press office that I am sure the editor will pass on to our readers.

Meanwhile, there are also some other intriguing goings on. Green veg is not just the domain of Europe or Kenya at this time of year, it seems. Ready prepared broad beans are now being flown in by M&S from Guatemala, at £1.99 for 200g, as well as guaranteed stringless sugarsnap peas - two packets for £3, for the same weight.

Red onions are now very much part of the selection, alongside brown and white varieties. But there is a newcomer in Sainsbury’s, described as the Crimsun onion, on half-price offer at 49p for 500g. The product comes from the Netherlands.

And on the same tack, the habit of offering a different description is now a common part of marketing. Lidl has elongated banana shallots, grown in France, at 49p for 250g.

While there is an excellent range of berries and stonefruit coming forward, there are some novelties when it comes to top fruit too, which continues to illustrate the shifting patterns of choice.

French Honeycrunch apples now have a firm foothold in the UK market, while Sainsbury’s is providing Ariane, sold loose at 81p a lb. Waitrose currently favours a new Canadian apple variety called Ambrosia, sold in a four pack for £2.69. Judging by the description, it is multi-purpose, and the message is that this delicately perfumed fruit is also excellent in pies and puddings.

On the tropical front, the Fairtrade concept has reached coconut growers in St Lucia, with Sainsbury’s selling each for 58p. Interestingly, the general retail habit of shrinkwrapping nuts - allegedly to save the husks from shedding in the shopping trolley - seems to have gone out of favour, although I noted that despite its thick shell, which makes the product sometimes impossible to open, there were a number of “splits” on display.

Dates have also widened their appeal, with M&S presenting a luxury pack of Deri dates, grown and packed in Israel, at £2.69 for 250g.

And finally back to labelling; Waitrose is focusing more closely on products from its highly respected Leckford Estate, by turning the identity into a real brand. It is now appearing as part of a logo on packs of white button mushrooms.

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