Rising temperatures last weekend gave the salad trade a boost. While “growing salads” and “baby leaf” have become acknowledged descriptions, micro leaves have up to now usually been associated with high class restaurant menus.

Sainsbury’s is set to change this perception, however, with a new range all priced at 50p each. It includes garlic chives and micro leaf rocket.

Going from one extreme to another, size is what counts when it comes to onions and Waitrose has a giant on its shelves, sourced in Spain by the Moulton Bulb Company.

Following the success of its Elephant garlic, these are the largest onions on the shelf. While 90mm is standard, these measure 110mm and are the size of a grapefruit, at 99p each.

But back to garlic, it comes in a variety of presentations - loose, netted in strings and even pink, purple, brown and black as well as white. Moulton Bulb is even providing M&S with a traditional bunched line called a “knot” at 99p.

Citrus historically finds it hard to battle against stonefruit and grapes at this time of year, so M&S is providing something different with a satsuma-grapefruit hybrid called Sweet Spring grown in South Africa, currently on a promotional price of £2.50 a pack.

Meanwhile at Tesco, French Flavour King plums are being marketed under its Super Sweet brand at £1.99 for four.

Staying on the continent, it doesn’t take long for ideas to catch on. A week after my discovery of Kiwi Berries in Asda from the Netherlands, Sainsbury’s has its own source of supply from Italy, at £2.50 for 125g.

In volume terms, European apples are beginning to take pride of place, at a time of year when lesser known varieties make a brief appearance. There is always a degree of prestige in stocking the vast range from Brogdale, and M&S has Lambourne in its Limited Edition range, with 500g at £2.24.

Not to be outdone, The Co-operative is featuring polybags of Spartan as a heritage variety at £1.60, identifying, and paying tribute to, grower Melvyn Newman on the pack.

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