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Grapes
Also indexed as: Cardinal Grapes, Catawba Grapes, Concord
Grapes, Emperor Grapes, Flame Seedless Grapes, Green Grapes, Niagara Grapes, Red Grapes,
Ribier Grapes, Thompson Seedless Grapes
Grapes can be attractive additions to fruit salads, tarts, curries, and
jams.
Grapes are really berries that grow in bunches on long, twining vines that can produce up
to 50 bunches per season. Grapevines can produce for up to 60 years or longer. In winemaking,
vines are meticulously pruned to limit the number of grapes, thus intensifying the flavor of
the wine. Grapes appear in Greek and Roman mythology with the invention of wine, and its
intoxicating properties are associated with the god Dionysus (Roman name, Bacchus). Wine was
first regarded as a sacred beverage and it remains steeped in symbolism today in many
Christian churches.
Varieties
Grapes are often classified according to their use as table or wine grapes. Vitis
vinifera, grown in Europe and considered the ideal grape for wine production, encompasses
thousands of types. Vitis labrusca and Vitis rotundifolia are primarily
found in North America and include the Concord (dark purple to black) grape, which is used
both as a table grape and to make juice, jellies, and wine. Another popular grape variety in
U.S. markets is the pale green Thompson seedless grape, a variety that accounts for half of
the table grapes grown in California, and that is also used to make over 90 percent of the
raisins in the United States. Other popular table grape varieties include Cardinal (red),
Emperor (bright red), Flame seedless (red), Niagara (green), Catawba (red), and Ribier (jet
black).
Buying and storing tips
Choose bunches that are somewhat tight, with fresh stems, grapes firmly attached, and skins
intact and without mushy spots. Avoid mold-spotted, wrinkled, raisinlike, or sticky grapes.
They do not ripen after harvest. Store grapes refrigerated as they are ripe when they are
picked, and warmer temperatures will cause them to wither or ferment. Under refrigeration,
grapes will keep for up to two weeks. Keep grapes on their stems, washing them only at the
last minute before serving, then blot them dry.
Availability
Grapes are available year-round, with those grown in the United States peaking from
mid-June to November.
Preparation, uses, and tips
Grapes can be attractive additions or centers of attention in fruit salads, tarts, curries,
and jams. When carefully dried, they become raisins. Grapes can be crushed as a dessert
topping. They can also be juiced for a refreshing treat.
Nutritional Highlights
Grapes (red or green), 1 cup, with seeds
(approx. 26 grapes)
Calories: 109
Protein: 1.0g
Carbohydrate: 27.4g
Total Fat: 0.89g
Fiber: 1.5g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin C (16.6mg)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular
nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good
source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily
Value.
Health benefits and concerns
Cancer
Resveratrol is a substance found in grapes that has
been reported to have anticancer activity in test tube and animal research. No trials in which
cancer patients have been given resveratrol supplements have yet been published; nor has there
been any research demonstrating a cancer-preventive effect from eating grapes.
Health benefits and concerns
for fruit
Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other fruit.
Read about health benefits and concerns for fruit for
a full description.
The information presented in this website is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.
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