How to select for best flavor:

The best way to tell if your grapes are good is to look at the stem. It should be green, firm and healthy. The grapes should be full, fresh and bright. Another important indication of good grapes is the bloom, the velvety, powdery look on the skin of fresh grapes. This can be lost when grapes are over handled. Avoid bunches with moldy or bruised grapes. Also avoid bunches with "shot" grapes. These are small green berries that have not developed properly. They will be very sour.

Emperor grapes that are sold from storage over the winter are the only grapes that should have a woody stem. This shows that they were properly cured for storage.

Peak of the season:

Some grapes are nearly always available. During the summer months, there are many varieties available and the price is usually at its best.

Nutritional value:

Grapes are a good source of vitamins A, B1 and potassium. They reduce the urine and stimulate the kidneys. They contain a fair amount of fiber and tend to have a laxative quality. Ten Thompson seedless grapes contain about 35 calories, no fat and only 1 mg. of sodium.

General information:

Some of the varieties you will find are:

Green:

 

Thompson seedless -- This is the most popular grape in the U.S. They are large, oval grapes, pale green in color. They are in season from July through October.

 

Perlette -- These look a little like Thompson. They are smaller, rounder and also seedless. They are in season from May through July.

 

Italia -- These are large, round green grapes and are very juicy. They are in season from August through October.

 

Red Flame Seedless -- These are large, round grapes, pale red in color. They are crunchy and can range in flavor from mildly sweet to tart. They are in season from June through September.

 

Red Globe -- These are very large, red grapes, firm, with big seeds. They store well and are available from September through January.

 

Emperor -- These are tender, red grapes with small seeds. They store well and are available from September through March.

 

Tokay -- These are crunchy, sweet grapes in season from August through November.

Purple:

Cardinal -- These are large, tart grapes. They are in season from May through August.

 

Beauty Seedless -- These are spicy, sweet grapes. They are in season from May through July.

 

Ribier -- These are plump, meaty grapes. The skins may have a bitter flavor. They are available from July through January.

 

Queen -- These are crisp, firm and juicy. They are available in August and September.

 

Grapes are perishable but will last two or three weeks in the refrigerator.