As far as the retailers are concerned, the holiday buying spree has most definitely arrived. As I walked the supermarket aisles for this column, it was not even December - so imagine my surprise when I found a real-life Father Christmas changing into costume in the toilets of one of the stores I regularly visit!

My next port of call was Sainsbury’s, where real Christmas trees were already on sale in the atrium. It was not that long ago that this line was generally considered far too bulky for supermarkets, and its domain was traditionally anywhere from roadside lay-bys to the nearest wholesale market or garden centre.

But while everything from champagne to crackers is sneaking into produce aisles, the latter are holding their own, as ever, in terms of colour and shape. There even seem to be more exotics available, to the extent that the term has virtually lost its meaning, and should be re-coined.

One of the lesser-known sources for lychees which I found in Sainsbury’s was Mauritius, and in its Taste the Difference range, Caribbean ginger (85g for 79p) was described as “the real thing”, even though it was next to a larger display of the product from China.

Meanwhile, Tesco continues to extend its range of super-sized produce. Following my discovery earlier in the year of single flat mushrooms and papaya, pomegranates have been added to the list, sold loose and weighing in at around 1.5lbs each for £1.99. While the US has recently made headway with pomegranates at this time of year, this fruit was grown in Israel.

It is interesting how pomelos still cause customers to stand and stare, although they have been around for some time. One reason for this, apart from their size, is possibly ignorance - showing that signage does not always work, and more PR is needed.

A fortnight ago, I commented that Lidl had flagged up China as a pomelo source, although the branch was awaiting a delivery. This week, it had arrived. It is the first time I have seen the fruit, identified as Honey pomelos at £1.49 each, attractively netted.

Asparagus has now lost its status as something special - other than during the English season - due to year-round availability. The majority arrives identically trimmed in over-wrapped trays like toy soldiers in a box for the Christmas stocking, or in bundles. The latter tend to look somewhat bland, which is why the use of a lavender-coloured sleeve at Sainsbury’s stands out so well.

Just as the various asparagus grades, tips and even spru have, as with pomelos, helped widen the sector’s offer, the same thing continues to be reflected in terms of stonefruit hybrids. Marks & Spencer has added nectacots to its range at £2.99. If you have not already guessed, they are the result of a marriage between apricots and nectarines.

And for anyone who wants to give a present to a horse, donkey or reindeer this Christmas, Tesco is now selling a bulk 2kg pack of unwashed carrots in a kraft bag at 99p, grown to Nature’s Choice standards.

Coincidentally, at the recent carrot growers’ conference, the subject of unwashed carrots cropped up. According to the Research & Consultancy Network, Asda put out a similar line in 2006, claiming mud acts as a natural preservative. While it then disappeared due to packing costs, it may yet be reintroduced.

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