Trying to define what actually is a novelty on the fresh produce counter is not as easy as it sounds.

Is it something that is limited by availability? Not always, because that has yet to catch on.

Is it something new? Perhaps not, for varieties are continually being “rediscovered”.

One such example of this is currently at Tesco, which has launched a new Supersweet baby Victoria pineapple grown in South Africa. These have turned up regularly for many years, although in this case it seems somewhat extravagantly priced at £2, when one four times the size from Costa Rica is just £1.

Value for money is also difficult to define. With summer in mind, Sainsbury’s has extended its fresh-cut range to include a Summer Drinks Mix, with an acknowledgement to Pimm’s on the pack.

The 120g contents include wedges of strawberry, orange, lemon, apple and cucumber, plus mint, and it costs £1.25.

Sainsbury’s also seems to have a penchant for linking produce to other products on its shelf barkers. One of the more unusual examples is mangoes - currently on half price offer at £1 - with Stilton cheese and ham as part of a salad.

One salad line which has been booming in the category has been rocket, both wild and perhaps what you would call “domesticated”. Tesco now has 90g Wildfire, trademarked, at £1.25.

The imported cherry season continues to build, with continental Europe now starting to compete with the US before our own crop gets underway.

The result has been a proliferation of punnets, trays and bowls, with Asda coming up with a 100g lidded snack pot carrying a variety called Chelan Orchard grown in Spain.

Jersey Royal continue to dominate the shelves, and at Marks & Spencer are even featured on the illuminated shelf screens which similarly boosted watercress.

However, there is also now another potato newcomer in its Limited Edition Speciality Range, called Miss Blush at £1.99/kg, grown in Lincolnshire.

An all rounder, the small variety has a mottled pink and white skin and apparently gives “a different roast experience”.

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