This excerpt from an item on FreshInfo.com highlights the on-going shifts that happen in the fresh produce sector.
The last line confirms though that with all the change, for the grower - things stay the same really - he's doing what he has been doing for quite a few years!
"At least the message that produce is good for you keeps coming up in different forms. There was a time when only the tomato industry and dieticians knew of the benefits of lycopene in the juicy red fruit. But Tesco is now drawing attention to the fact it is stocking fruit marketed on the vine from Norfolk that has a high lycopene content.
In the same timescale, just as the tomato selection has divided and subdivided to produce cheap standard fruit as well as added-value lines, the mushroom industry has followed suit with new packs and products popping up almost as fast as the crop grows in the casing tray.
Tesco's Finest exotic range features some Lancashire grown specialities, which this month included a 33 per cent extra free offer on 100g of mushrooms for GBP 1.29.
While shi-itake took its place on the counter some time ago, consumers are now being introduced to Nameko, and the massive Eryngii, each working out at about a third of the volume in the pack.
Apparently, producer John Dorrian, pictured on the pack, has had experience growing several exotic species for no fewer than 14 years." Source: FreshInfo.com 12 Apr 07
