The burst of summer weather did wonders for the British berry sector this week, with some massive displays of high-quality fruit. At the same time, imported cherries have now put in an appearance.

However, at Marks & Spencer it appears that the origin, while evident on the shelf barker, does not have to be carried on the loose open bags. For the record, simply styled US red cherries are £6.99 for 550g. When it comes to punnets, it is a different matter, with them priced at £3.49 for 275g of Tulare.

European stonefruit will soon be present in bulk, but there still seem to be niche market slots from elsewhere. Australia is a case in point, as a far less frequent source today compared to the days when it played a major role in the top-fruit market. Waitrose is providing new-season October Sun plums at £1.99 for 400g and, in parallel, Sainsbury’s has Flavour Full in its home-ripening pack.

This time of year is ideal for salad lines, with new recruits to the range being launched almost every week.

M&S has come up with selected small side salads, all at two for £3. These include everything from beans, rice, sprouting peas and beans, and a 220g tomato and mozzarella pot.

When it comes to loose and pre-packed ranges of lettuce, Little Gem still upholds the industry’s view that more and more speciality lines are coming forward and that they still hold good. There is now not just Red Cos lettuce, but a Duet sweet ruby variety being sold in Waitrose.

Meanwhile, the debate continues about the definition of seasonal food. It puts me in mind of dates and the days when sales were centred almost entirely on the winter months, with the highlight being the Christmas holiday. The traditional glove box presentation may not be as common as it once was in the days when I worked for a well-known food broker in the City, but M&S has a neat, no-nonsense pack of stoneless fruit called Deri, from Israel, at £2.69.

For something different in the legume range, Tesco has come up with a new pack of edamame beans grown in Guatemala, priced at £1.49 for 225g. The product has turned up from time to time in mixed prepared salads, but is now being given shelf space on its own account.

And while temperatures rise and public interest in root crops declines, one of the exceptions remains young carrot bunches. Apart from the product being washed and very bright, the feathery stalks have always been an attraction and, as far as these are concerned, there is no mistaking them, as they make the pack 18 inches long. Priced at £1.50, they also come from France - if my memory serves me right, from the Nantes region.

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