There is no doubt that every multiple likes to be first when it comes to stocking something new, even if there are instances of the product quietly disappearing off the shelf after a few weeks, then turning up under a different guise elsewhere.

As a result, I am sure that apple connoisseurs will be watching out for what I hear is a new variety from Canada called Ambrosia, which is coming to the end of a successful run at Waitrose, priced at £1.99 for a pack or four.

Indications that it may last the course seem good. My spies tell me this cross between Golden Delicious and Starking is already facing strong demand across the Atlantic, so we are lucky to see it so early on.

Meanwhile, there seems no end to the messages concerning the healthy properties of fruit and veg, which are continuing to appear on packs. Watercress has always had a reputation, rather like spinach, for being rich in iron - and while browsing over a two-for-£1.50 offer in Sainsbury’s, I noticed that the polybags are carrying a sticker that highlights its vitamin content, emphasising the value of antioxidants.

While the majority of watercress is sourced in Europe, the same cannot be said for sweetcorn. In order to meet year-round demand, the same store was carrying £1.79 twin packs of Supersweet from Senegal, a lesser-known source, unless you live in France.

Staying on the African continent, Kenya is a tried-and-tested supplier, but I confess I have never come across Boston fine beans, available at Marks & Spencer, at £1.99 for 200g.

According to the description, this “slender and succulent” product is selected “for its rich dark green pods... with an especially sweet and nutty flavour”. Certainly, it is an example of how the offer on every product continues to widen - I remember when there were only runners and French beans.

Moving further east, Tesco’s Finest range features Thai mini mangoes, at £2.79. The name - Ma’Prang - is quite a mouthful but, as the experts tell me, this fruit comes in hundreds of different shapes and sizes, so I have a feeling we can expect some more tongue twisters in the years ahead.

Colour, of course, has always played a big part when it comes to attracting customer attention. Probably the best examples on the shelf are traffic light pepper packs or, even better, when they are displayed loose under the right lighting. However, tomatoes have been catching up, and some of the varieties now being sold are as intense in hue. There has been growth of mixed-colour packs, but the fruit can end up too jumbled together. Tesco has come up with 250g of red and orange baby plum tomatoes, sourced from Paul Howlett at the Wight Salads Group, and priced at £1.79. The tray has a separate compartment for each variety, and really makes them stand out.

Finally, with more and more product moving into what I call the semi-processed range for lazy cooks, it is always interesting to compare prices with the traditional product. Sainsbury’s, for example, has 110g of Pak Choi in a stir-fry pack, at 99p. The equivalent price for a 200g pre-pack is £1.19. I suppose it is all about the public perception of what constitutes a portion.

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