It's the Truly American Grape
America is a land of immigrants, a great melting pot of cultures. Such could be the Concord Grape. In the mid-1800's, a guy named Ephraim Wales Bull developed the very first Concord grapevines. He was a committed grape grower intent on having a grapevine that might be hardy enough to survive the cold Massachusetts winters. Many European varieties didn't do too well in the northern American climate. Mr. Bull is said to have evaluated over 22,000 seedlings in his time before he finally produced his masterpiece. Though he left no complete records of the heritage with this grape, experts speculate that he crossed hardy native grapes, Vitis labrusca, also known as the Fox Grape, with a European variety, Vitis vinifera. From these came up with what he considered to be an ideal grape. He named them after the city near his vineyards in Massachusetts.
It's an American Cultural Icon
What is an American supermarket without Welch's Grape Juice on its shelves? Shortly after Mr. Bull introduced his perfect American grape at the Boston Horticultural Society, where it won first prize; a Dr. Thomas Welch, a New Jersey dentist of everything, appeared on the grape scene. Together with his wife and son, Charles, he gathered about 40 pounds of grapes from the trellis on their property. They blanched the grapes and then squished the juice out through muslin bags into quart bottles lined up on a kitchen counter.
Using the method described by Louis Pasteur, they sealed the bottles and boiled them. This pasteurization was a pioneering effort for the canned and bottled juice industry in America. His intent, however, was to make juice for non-alcoholic wine to be used during communion at his local teetotalist Methodist church. The pasteurization prevented fermentation, more churches ordered the stuff, and the business grew. Soon, Charles moved the operation to New York from New Jersey and began processing 300 tons of grapes a year. And not just for churches.
What is America without Peanut and Jelly Sandwiches? Concord Grape Jelly could be the penultimate foil for peanut butter as any American kid, and any American adult for example, will tell you. Grape pie is a regional New England treat. And, according for some, Concord Grapes are a well liked American table grape, recognizable by their frosty blue sheen. Usually, whenever an artist or cartoonist desires to depict grapes, the Concord Grape could be the model. Any child who hasn't worn a purple mustache at some amount of time in his / her young life, may not be an American child. The Concord Grape is also used to flavor and color candies.
It's Chock-a-Block with Nutrients
Concord Grapes used in food products are reduced in sodium and contain no fat or cholesterol. One cup of 100% Concord Grape juice contains almost the maximum amount of potassium as present in a banana. Concord Grapes are a fantastic vegetable source of calcium. They contain a lot of antioxidants and trace minerals so crucial to health my website. Studies declare that Concord Grape juice may provide some protections against breast cancer, others that it may reduce blood pressure. It can benefit control cholesterol levels. Concord Grapes are heart-healthy, fight narrowing of the arteries, and improve arterial elasticity. And the list continues on
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