There is very definitely an air of seasonality on the retail scene this week. Apart from the arrival of satsumas, which historically open the Spanish citrus season, more and more shelf space is being given over to nuts, which is a sure sign that Christmas is on the way.

Pumpkin faces are also peeping out of Halloween hats, although it was not that long ago when they were almost forgotten as a line and the only way to make a purchase was to head to the farm shop.

Now value has been added by the major multiples with painting kits, carving sets and much more. I always thought large sizes and pumpkins went hand in hand, but Sainsbury’s is stocking a mini for 99p. What caught my eye is that not only is the product white and edible, but some of the display showed Spain as country of origin.

Carving kits and the fashion for including utensils in packs are not new. They have turned up again at Tesco in its New Zealand Gold kiwifruit pack at £1.99 for four - certainly a good way to increase public perception of this smoother, softer variety.

And full marks to my local store for its efforts in heralding the start of the English apple season. Usually my attention is confined to the shelves, but outside my local branch there were giant banners announcing the arrival of Cox.

There were other varieties too, such as the first Egremont Russett with information on the polybag declaring that the fruit was glycaemic tested - which for the record means it is one of the “lower to medium foods that help you feel fuller, longer”.

And inside the store, UK vegetable growers were not forgotten with John Shropshire and Alan Bartlett smiling out from a new set of personalised shelf barkers celebrating British food.

Of course, at this time of the year the media is filled with stories of old English apple varieties, although apart from the National Fruit Show and a handful of institutions such RHS Wisley and Brogdale, opportunities to see the trees or fruits themselves are normally off the public-beaten track.

However, Marks & Spencer is selling Sunrise billed as a “Forgotten Favourite”. Based on the pack information, the apple is being grown by Rob Simpson and priced at £1.99. Apparently the variety was becoming increasingly rare until three years ago when M&S rediscovered it. The chain was so impressed, goes the story, that Simpson went out and planted 5,000 trees.

And meanwhile the prepared salad and vegetable range continues to expand. Also at M&S, I was intrigued by a new cabbage, red onion and leek pack weighing in at 120g and retailing for £1.49. The contents certainly look attractive, but perhaps someone can tell me why a handful of sunflower seeds was packaged separately and stuck on the outside of the bag?

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