Grapes
Grapes
Grapes
Eat grapes and earn a
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Grapes
Can you munch a whole bunch?

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Fun Facts

Grapes are a type of berry with a colorful history that dates back to at least 5000 BC. Grapes commanded respect! (They still do.) Hieroglyphics of grapes were found in ancient burial tombs in Egypt. Ancient Greeks and Romans honored them for their wine. Native American tribes on the West Coast ate grapes long before they were cultivated for wine in California's Napa Valley. With thousands of varieties, both wine grapes and table grapes grow on every continent except Antarctica.

Star Power

These sweet-smelling grapes get their purply-black color from more than a hundred different anthocyanins -- strong antioxidants with a rainbow of positive effects on the body. From carotenoids to silbanes like resveratrol, black grapes keep your brain sharp and your sugar levels stable. With their super antioxidant power, black grapes also keep the circulation system circulating properly, and keep inflammation lower throughout the body. The highest concentration of antioxidants is in the seeds and skin. Did you know it's better to eat organic black grapes to avoid pesticide residues?

Quick Preps

PREPARE: Wash black grapes under cold running water.

  • Add black grapes to fruit and green salads.
  • Add black grapes to fruit and veggie kabobs.
  • Put black grapes in the freezer, and eat for a cold sweet treat.
  • Use sliced black grapes in quinoa salads.
  • Add diced black grapes to chicken salad.
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Fun Tip

Make your own wrinkly black grape raisins! After rinsing, remove the large stems, keeping the smaller stems in tact. Place on a slatted tray, screen or wire cooling rack. Let them sit outside in a dry, warm place for 4-5 days, rotating twice a day. Once they are completely dehydrated, enjoy!

Star-Powered Recipe

5 star dinner Grape Munch & Crunch Salad
Grape Munch & Crunch Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked quinoa. (1 cup dry yields 3 cups cooked.)
  • 2 cups grapes, halved
  • 4 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped
  • ½ cup sliced almonds

Dressing

  • ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tsp. tamari soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp. curry powder

Method

  • Whisk the dressing together.
  • Toss quinoa with halved grapes, diced celery, chopped green onions, sliced almonds and dressing. Enjoy!
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How to Store

Fresh: Place unwashed grapes in the fridge in a perforated plastic bag.|To freeze: Wash, remove from stems and set aside. In a saucepan, combine 2 ¾ cups of sugar and 4 cups of water. Mix until clear, then bring to a boil. Cool the syrup and pour over grapes, then place in covered airtight containers or freezer bags for about a year.

How It Grows

Black grapes grow in clusters on vines that can stretch more than 100 feet long.

Peak Seasons

Summer, fall

Varieties

Black Monukka, Summer Royal, Autumn Royal, Black Emerald

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