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Know Your Fruits and Veggies™
Grapes
by Dawn Swidorski, Public Outreach Director
A grape is an
edible fruit in the buckthorn family and botanically considered a true berry.
They grow on a woody vine that bears fruit each year (perennial). Grapes have
grown wild since pre-historic times and are one of three fruits native to North
America.
Grapes are round or
oval shaped berries with a juicy semi-translucent flesh covered with a very
thin smooth skin. Grapes grow in clusters of 6 to 300, and can be amber, crimson,
black, dark blue, yellow, green and pink. Like
blueberries, grapes have a protective whitish residue or “bloom” on the skin.
Some varieties contain seeds which are edible. In general, whole grapes have a
slightly crunchy texture and a dry, sweet and tart taste.
Frequently mentioned in the old and new testaments of the
bible, archeological evidence shows they were cultivated as early as 5000 BC. Historians
believe that ancient Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans grew grapes for eating and
wine production. By 1000 BC, grape cultivation spread to Europe and North
Africa. Though they grew wild in North America, cultivation didn’t begin in
earnest until the late 1700’s when Spanish missionaries brought them to
California.
There are three main
species of grapes: European grapes (Vitis vinifera), North American
grapes (Vitis labrusca and Vitis rotundifolia) and French hybrids.
While there are thousands of varieties of grapes, only about 20 make up the
majority of table grapes consumed.
Grape varieties are ultimately
determined by their final use. Table grapes must be low in both acidity and
sugar content and must conform to definite standards of size, color, and shape.
Raisin grapes are preferably seedless, with high sugar content and low acidity.
Grapes used to make table wine must have relatively high acidity and moderate
sugar content; however, grapes used for dessert wines and other sweet wines, must
have high sugar content and moderate acidity.
Grapes can be eaten raw or used for making jam, juice, jelly,
vinegar, and wine. They can be dried to make raisins or processed to produce grape
seed extracts and grape seed oil. Grapes are also used in some kinds of confectionery.
Grapes are a tasty addition
to any fruit or mixed green salad and are wonderful in chicken salad and even
curries. For an enhanced visual effect, consider using a few different
varieties of grapes. Grapes are also great paired with cheese.
Frozen grapes are a
refreshing and healthy snack for kids on a hot day. To freeze grapes, rinse and
pat dry, arrange in a single layer on a cookie sheet and place in freezer until frozen.
Transfer grapes to a heavy plastic bag and return to the
freezer.
American’s consume
about 8 pounds of grapes per person per year and California produces 98% of the
fresh grapes grown in the United States.
Unlike
many fresh fruits, grapes are harvested fully ripe. Grapes can be easily
damaged by rough handling, warm temperatures, moisture and decay-causing
organisms, so they are harvested by hand and immediately packed into shipping
containers - sometimes right in the field and quickly placed in cold storage
facilities until they reach their final market.
