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Sunday, September 07, 2008

Grapes


The grape is one of the oldest cultivated fruits: Fossils indicate that the cultivation, or at least the consumption, of grapes goes back to early times, perhaps to the Neolithic era. Hieroglyphics show that Egyptians were involved in grape and wine production, and the early Romans were known to have developed new varieties. And, of course, the grape is mentioned in the Old Testament as the "fruit of the vine."

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 Availability Chart


P =Peak M =Medium L =Low
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
CA L L L L M P P P P P M  

Care & Handling

Availability
Green Giant Fresh Grapes are available year round.

Varieties
Green Seedless : These oval, amber green grapes are the most popular fresh variety grown in the United States (and also the foremost variety used for processing into raisins). Season: June through November.

Red Seedless : Round, deep red, and seedless, these grapes, a relatively new variety, are sweet-tart and crunchy. Season: mid-June through September; Chilean imports are available from December through April.

Black Seedless: These are the only seedless black grapes. They are spicy and sweet, resembling Concords in flavor. Season: late May to early July.

Selection
Grapes are thin-skinned and easily damaged. They should be displayed no more than two bunches deep, and under refrigeration. The bunches may be wrapped in tissue paper, or enclosed in perforated plastic bags. Loose bunches are easiest to evaluate, but the wrapped grapes are better protected from damage caused by customer handling.

Grapes are not picked and shipped until ripe, so unripe grapes are not usually a problem for the consumer. You can, however, use color as a guide to the sweetest fruit. Green grapes should tend toward a translucent yellow-green rather than an opaque grass green; all fruit on a bunch of red grapes should be predominantly crimson; and blue grapes should be darkly hued, almost black. Once they have been picked, grapes will not ripen further: If you spot a bunch with many underdeveloped, very green fruits, leave it in the store.

Storage
Before storing grapes at home, remove any spoiled fruit. Place unwashed grapes in a plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator. They should keep for about a week.

Preparation
Wash grapes under cold water just before serving and remove any damaged fruit. Leave the bunch whole, or divide it into smaller branches for serving. (This is easily done with a pair of kitchen shears).