The produce aisles are already buzzing in the build-up to Christmas with just one more weekend to go. Seasonal lines such as dates, figs and nuts are being placed in prominent positions and, like champagne, smoked salmon and the mass of liqueurs with strange-sounding names, are enjoying their peak sales period.

And as far as fruit and vegetables are concerned, there are still new lines coming out to tempt the customer.

Mindful of the seasonal song, I am not sure whether Marks & Spencer sells partridges, but over the last year its buyers have been looking at pear trees with the result that a new variety has been introduced to the Perfectly Ripe range, named Sweet Sensation. Grown in the Netherlands, it is described as an appealing Red Comice, priced at £1.49.

The sources supplying European apples seem to be increasing in number. Austrian Braeburn regularly comes good at this time of the year, in Waitrose at £1.99, with German Pinova in Tesco at £2.19 for four.

In the same store and on the same ticket, Belgium has come up with a lesser-known variety called Evelina, sold in six-packs labelled “50 per cent free”.

Meanwhile, Tesco is continuing to build on a range of new arrivals, which have been hitting the national media headlines, as well as FPJ. With such a wealth of product on offer, it often seems amazing that there is still room for niche market products.

Chillies are a case in point, arriving from all corners of the globe, including the UK. This week, St Lucia has become a source for Sainsbury’s, with Scotch Bonnet at £1.50. The island has a long history of trying to reduce its dependence on bananas. Progress in other directions has been limited, but hope springs eternal. There was a time when pineapples were considered flavour of the month, and even carrots!

Recently, I commented on Muchamiel tomatoes and Lamuyo red roasting peppers and, subsequently, I discovered the range has increased even further.

Having also read about Spanish Sugardrop, I have come across another exclusive tomato variety at Tesco called Moruno, finding its feet in store. Interestingly, both have entered the price promotion multi-buy arena, with any two of the 280g punnets at £2.50.

The multiple has also introduced green Pimentos de Padron, in the Finest range at £1.75.

The good news so far at this time of the year is that Brussels sprouts, the traditional Christmas dinner accompaniment alongside parsnips, seem to have avoided their annual media-bashing. The idea of selling them on the stalk really seems to have taken hold, even if it goes against the flow of fresh-cut and prepared produce.

It is the time of plenty and good will to all shoppers, and I expect that plans are already being hatched to tempt them over the threshold as the New Year dawns.

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