MANGOES, star fruit, chow chow and okra . . . the list of exotic fruits and vegetables now appearing on supermarket shelves is growing.

But does the average customer know what to do with them?

Do we prefer to stick to carrots, potatoes and peas rather than pay a little bit extra and risk the alternative?

East Lancashire stores are providing people with a range of exotic and different fruits and vegetables which they say are proving ever more popular.

Peter Rowson, produce manager at Tesco, in Hill Street, Blackburn, said: "In recent years there's been a bigger push on exotic fruit and vegetables and now we've given them their own section. We found they went well around Valentine's Day when we had a promotion for people to buy exotic fruits rather than chocolates and wine.

"We also do tastings which help to introduce people to them."

Ian Taylor, produce manager at Morrisons, Blackburn, said mangoes and coconuts were the most popular exotic fruits.

"Mangoes are always a favourite with the Asian community, as they like to use them in chutneys, and coconuts are another winner," he said. "People sometimes buy full cases. When the Ken Hom cookery show was on TV last year we found everyone was buying Chinese vegetables for stir-fries, which they wouldn't have done years ago."

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