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Produce Briefs...
Ramps
The wild ramp, AKA wild leek, botanical name Allium tricoccum, is a flowering perennial plant that grows in clusters. It is a member of the Allium family along with onions and leeks
Calamondin Limes
The Calamondin lime is a cross between a sour, loose skinned mandarin and a kumquat, therefore technically making it an orangequat.
Salanova® Lettuces
Salanova® lettuce is a full-sized variety developed for the baby lettuce market. Botanically these varieties are scientifically known as Lactuca sativa.
Description/Taste
Moon Drop® grapes are medium to large in size and are extremely elongated, oblong, or tubular in shape, growing in tight clusters on fleshy green stems. The smooth, dark sapphire skin appears almost black, has a glossy sheen, and a characteristic dimple on one end. The grapes are so crisp that they can be snapped in two, revealing a translucent green seedless pulp. Moon Drop® grapes are sweeter than normal black grape varieties and contain just enough tannins to balance out the juicy sweet flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Moon Drop® grapes are available in the summer through fall.
Current Facts
Moon Drop® is the proprietary name given to these uniquely shaped grapes developed by The Grapery® in Bakersfield, CA. They are a seedless black grape of the botanical classification Vitis vinifera that offer an excellent crunch and intensely sweet grapey flavor. After years of selective breeding and experimentation, The Grapery® has created a reputation for releasing one of a kind grapes without the use of additives or GMO’s. In the fall, Moon Drop® grapes are covered with plastic to protect the fruit from rain which could potentially dilute natural sugars. This allows the grapes to develop a sweet, concentrated flavor that is ideal for snacks and eating raw out-of-hand.
Nutritional Value
Moon Drop® grapes are a good source of antioxidants, flavonoids, manganese, and vitamins A, C, and K.
Applications
Moon Drop® grapes are best suited for both raw consumption and cooked applications such as roasting or blistering. They are generally eaten out-of-hand as a table grape, but their long tubular shape also allows for more diverse culinary applications. Moon Drop® grapes are large enough to be split in half and stuffed with a salty cheese to complement their sweet flavor. They are also excellent roasted with salt and lemon or blistered over high heat and paired with sautéed bitter greens or sharp Brussel sprouts. Other complimentary flavors include almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts, pork, poultry, duck, rosemary, fennel, fennel seed, mint, endive, yogurt, blue cheese, and goat cheese. Moon Drop® grapes will keep up to one week when stored in the refrigerator. They can also be frozen for extended use and flavor will not be lost.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Moon Drop® grapes are only available for about a month and are in high demand because of their limited availability. These grapes are not available in cuttings for home gardens and are actually patented until 2031 to protect other growers from reproducing the variety. To help meet demand, Moon Drop® grapes keep well so consumers can purchase in bulk and store in their freezer for use during the winter months. They are a favorite to serve at parties or on cheese boards, and part of the grape’s charm is the thrill of the hunt to find the unique grapes each year.
Geography/History
Moon Drop® grapes were created in 2004 by Jack Pandol of The Grapery® in Bakersfield, California and fruit geneticist David Cain at the International Fruit Genetics company. The grapes are grown in the San Joaquin Valley in California and can be found at local supermarkets in the majority of the United States, but they have a very short season and are in very limited supply.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Moon Drop® Grapes. One
is
easiest, three is harder.| Kroger |
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Roasted Moon Drop, Blue Cheese, & Honey Crostini |
| Adriana's Best Recipes |
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Halloween Moon Drop Grapes |
