One thing for certain - apart from the imminent arrival of Christmas - is that retail tickets gave every impression of being at bargain basement levels this week. After the latest “disclosure” in the media that reduced prices may not be all they seem, there appear to be far more two-for-one offers on the shelves.

There are also a fair share of ‘speciality’ items around, although I feel the definition is still somewhat hazy. Tesco, for example, has a very attractive mixed tomato pack in its branded range (£1.89 for 380g), consisting of the Sunstream, Marzinino and Sungod varieties, although it might enhance the offer if there was an explanation why these particular cultivars were selected.

There is a very clear message in the same store, however, from the organic boxes being supplied by Guy Shropshire, this week on offer at a reduced £8 and containing no less than 10 items. The boxes I saw have had a makeover with a clear plastic top, so the goodies can be seen inside. While the company is best known for its veg, there were apples, pears and mushrooms included - a veritable farmers’ market of choice.

Lines such as brassicas and potatoes have never had the visual appeal of fruit, although most people will agree that bag designs have done much to lift their appeal. Marks & Spencer, however, has announced that several root crops will now be sold loose to reduce packaging. The result has been that some varieties of potatoes are now carrying individual stickers, such as Marfona and Maris Piper (both £1.79 a kilo), while swedes and turnips are following suit.

In the organic range at Sainsbury’s, I also came across a lesser-known potato, Vales Emerald, grown in the West Midlands and defined as an outstanding early variety, arriving fresh despite the frosty weather.

The jury is still out on how long the English onion season will last, which is likely to give impetus to imports. However, the Taste the Difference range at Sainsbury’s currently includes the UK-produced red Italian Borretane onion, now grown exclusively by the Parrish family.

The time is also approaching when people are looking to fill their stockings with traditional clementines and/or satsumas. Or are they tangerines or mandarins? There is still a great deal of consumer confusion around citrus. More easily defined are oranges - although I have recently noted that some varieties seem to have borrowed a variation on the descriptive text used by English apple growers. Australian Lane Lates, which had been ‘left on the tree longer for an extra sweet flavour’, cost £1.99 for four. There are also new descriptions coming up on nets of Sicilian Taroccos, four for £1.79 at Tesco, described as Tender Flesh.

Perhaps in the New Year we will see the advancement of yet another concept, namely identifying the actual smell of fresh produce. M&S has an eight-ingredient aromatic stir fry on its shelves, at £2.49 for 230g.

And finally, in the same vein, we have the ubiquitous curry. Chillies are a major contributing factor to the eating experience, but most of them currently seem to be grown in East Africa. However, Tesco is now stocking them from India (89p for 100g).

Topics