Grapes: the perfect fruit year-round

Grapes have been part of our diet for thousands of years.Today, it is estimated that some 63 million tons are producedthroughout the world - twice the world banana production. Grapes areused in three ways: Crushed for wine, spirits and other processes.

Dried for raisins. For fresh consumption.

California produces approximately 4 million tons of grapes peryear. Approximately 63 percent are crushed for wine, 27 percent aremade into raisins, and 10 percent are sold as fresh table grapes.

California produces about 97 percent of the table grapes in theUnited States, with Arizona accounting for about 3 percent. Thereare some imports from Mexico, Chile and South Africa. The varietiesfrom Chile and South Africa are identical to our California varietiesand come on the market during the two months of the year whenCalifornia table grapes are not available. This makes grapes aperfect fruit year-round.

The per capita consumption of table grapes in the 1950s reacheda high of nearly 6 pounds per person. With the disappearance of thefactory lunch pail, the sack lunch and the family fruit bowl and withthe rise of junk foods, that consumption dropped to 1.7 pounds in1971.

However, the change in national eating habits and the movementback to natural foods increased consumption to 5.1 pounds in 1983 -and it's still climbing. The advent of the lunch bunch for thereturning brown bag lunch has been partly responsible. At-homeintake of grapes also has increased by 195 percent.

This delicate and flavorful fruit has a history as old asmankind. According to the Bible, grapevines were planted by Noahafter the flood.

Grapes are bursting with flavor and vitamins and minerals. Theycontain vitamin C, some B vitamins, magnesium and phosphorus.Grapes also are low in sodium.

Once picked, the sugar content of grapes won't increase, so theydon't gain additional sweetness. Only ready-to-eat grapes areshipped, so there is no need for additional ripening. Select grapebunches that are well-formed with fruit that is smooth, plump andwell-colored for the variety.