It’s been an interesting exercise to see how the multiples have rearranged their wares in the last week, with fresh produce programmes inevitably going to the wind during the heavy snowfall.

Berries at one point virtually disappeared in my location, although some airfreight must also have been getting through.

Marks & Spencer was stocking watercress from the US at £1 for 60g, as well as another exclusive arrival. This time it was Golden Frangi papaya all the way from Malaysia, at £2.39 each.

Shelves generally, however, were packed with more citrus and potatoes than usual.

At a time when shoppers are more concerned with stocking up, larger packs of both must have got a boost. Tesco is now offering 2.3kg for £4 of clemenules in its Finest range, which show up well in black cartons and even have corner pegs allowing easy stacking and ventilation.

M&S has already introduced bulk potato bags and has now added 5kg of King Edwards at £4.99, printed to look like an old-fashioned sack.

Apart from the mass of information on cooking, it carries news of environmental benefits including energy-saving storage techniques, while explaining that substituting plastic for paper saves 11 tonnes of packaging a year.

Budgens is sourcing its shallots from France via Brookerpaks, and is selling them at a price of £1.49 for 250g, reflecting the view that private brands seem to be making a comeback.

Moving away from brassicas and roots, a major feature in fruit sales is the level of maturity. I have always been told that pears are the most tricky as they ripen from the inside out, while customers have very definite demands as to whether they want to eat them hard or soft.

Descriptions also help, and while Italian Red Bartlett is well known, Asda is currently stocking a “max(imum)” variation at £1.37 for four.

Concorde, the Conference-Comice hybrid, gets a half price boost at M&S at £1.79 for four, with credit being given to East Malling Research for this breeding programme.

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