Jelly Drop® Grapes
Estimated Inventory, 8 ct : 0
Description/Taste
Jelly Drop® grapes are very round and firm and have a thin, dark purple skin with the occasional white bloom. The medium-sized grapes are meaty and aromatic, with juicy, seedless flesh. They offer a sweet, jammy flavor with a bit of concord grape earthiness.
Seasons/Availability
Jelly Drop® grapes are available for a short time in the late summer and very early fall.
Current Facts
Jelly Drop® grapes are a hybrid variety of table grape, also known as California Thomcord. They are a cross between the popular thompson table grape and the concord grape of jelly fame and are botanically classified as Vitis vinifera x labrusca. The grapes have the look of a concord and the seedless quality of a thompson, with flavor nuances from both parents. The grapes were rebranded ‘Jelly Drop® ’ but are still available under the name Thomcord. They are also being marketed as ‘Grape Jammers’ by another farm in California and can be found at major grocery chains around the country.
Nutritional Value
Jelly Drop® grapes are a good source of vitamins C, A and K. They are also a source of dietary fiber and contain trace amounts of calcium and iron. The phytonutrients that give Jelly Drop® grapes their dark purple coloring also provide beneficial flavonoids which offer powerful antioxidant benefits.
Applications
Jelly Drop® grapes can be used both raw or cooked and are ideal for both sweet and savory applications. Add raw whole or halved grapes to fruit salads, green salads or toss into grain or pasta salads. Blend into smoothies or juice with greens and other fruits. Use Jelly Drop® grapes in sauces or chutneys for grilled or roasted poultry or meats. Add to baked goods like muffins, scones, or pies, or top a sweet or savory tart. Jelly Drop® grapes can be used for jams or jellies and they can be pickled to preserve. Refrigerate unwashed grapes for up to a week.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Jelly Drop® grapes were created in the early 1980s as the result of a laboratory experiment. Two grape breeders in California wanted to test a scientific theory about a new procedure for breeding new seedless grapes with superior flavor. The researchers were able to solve their query and the experiment resulted in a new grape, then called A29-67. It wasn’t until 2003 that scientists determined the new grape was ready for its debut.
Geography/History
Jelly Drop® grapes were developed over a period of 17 years by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service. They were originally released under the name Thomcord but were re-branded in 2015 as Jelly Drop® grapes. Jelly Drop® grapes are primarily grown in and around Bakersfield, California where much of the country’s commercial table grapes are grown. They thrive in the hot, dry environment of California’ Central Valley. Jelly Drop® grapes can be found at retail stores throughout the United States and in Canada.
