As summer choices come into their own, Tesco seems to have been the first to try out a new soft fruit on its customers, with the introduction of the strasberry at £2.99 for 125g. The distinctive line, launched under its Just Discovered range, is grown in the Netherlands, although it has its origins in South America.
I wonder if these strawberries with a raspberry flavour may end up being one of many to mix and match flavours, as exemplified in the stonefruit category, where interbreeding apricots, plums and nectarines has become commonplace.
With summer coming, the warmer temperatures have attracted arrivals of watermelons. Sainsbury’s and Tesco are sourcing from Costa Rica, priced at £3.79 and £3.29 respectively. Apart from the price difference, the former are a darker colour while the latter are far paler.
Staying with melons, for some time Waitrose has been adorning fruit with a band featuring the useful information that it is ready to eat. Now it has gone further, with a large green, black and white sticker bearing the message. Re-branded Honeydew melons come from Brazil and are part of a two-for-£3 offer, which also covers pineapples.
On the salad front, Marks & Spencer has a smart new Garden Salad selection at £2 for 61g. The sealed rectangular pack is unusual in that it is branded in black, which makes it stand out on the shelves. The contents feature green multi-leaf and baby lambada lettuce, spinach, peashoots (18 per cent), parsley (four per cent) and radish shoots (three per cent).
Marks & Spencer also has an exclusive Super Sweetini tomato at £2.29 for 220g, grown by Lancashire specialist Andy Roe. Apart from praising its flavour, however, the retailer is not giving much away except to add this has resulted from the best production conditions and the grower’s skills.
It is no surprise that brassicas tend to take a back seat at this time of year, but they remain popular with loyal fans who believe sprouts are not just for Christmas. Tesco is sourcing from Morocco at £1.39 for 300g.
No comments yet