
Grape Trivia
The grape is one of the oldest fruits to be cultivated going back as far as biblical times.
Spanish explorers introduced the fruit to America approximately 300 years ago.
Some of the most popular ways in which the fruit is used, is eaten fresh, in preserves or canned in jellies, dried into raisins, and crushed for grape juice or wine.
Although, machines have taken the place of much handwork, table grapes are still harvested by hand in many places.
Grape growing is the largest food industry in the world. There are more than 60 species and 8000 varieties of grapes, and they can all be used to make juice and/or wine.
The average person eats eight pounds of grapes a year.
The best selling grape in the U.S. is the Thompson Seedless. Golden raisins are also made from the Thompson seedless grape.
Botanically, grapes are berries. There are about 25 million acres of grapes worldwide.
The world production of grapes is over 72 million tons.
About 25% of the grapes eaten in the United States are imported from Chile.
California grows over 300,000 tons of grapes each year.
The most valuable fruit crops in the United States are in order, grapes, apples, oranges and strawberries (2000).
Courtesy of Foodreference.com, James T. Ehler (Chef, editor, and publisher)
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