Fun Facts you Probably Don’t Know About Grapes

_{Interesting Facts About Grapes You Probably Didn’t Know. Including fun facts about grapes and why you should be eating more of them.}

Fun Facts You Probably Don’t Know About Grapes

Grapes aren’t just delicious, they are good for you, too. They are known as nature’s candy because of their sweetness. They come in many colors; black, red, green, yellow, pink, and purple.

These little round balls of sweetness are used to make wine, jelly, and fruit salad. And they are a great source of vitamin C. There are lots of interesting facts about this fruit you probably don’t know, so let’s talk about some facts about grapes that will help you win trivia night.

First, did you know there are more than 10,000 different kinds of grapes? Frankly, it’s overwhelming when you start to think about all the grapes out there. I knew there were a lot of different kinds, but I didn’t expect there to be so many! There are also 60 different species.

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One cup of grapes, with about 100 calories, provides more than a quarter of the daily recommended values of vitamins K and C.

FUN FACT: Grapes Are Actually Berries

According to Dictionary.com, the word “berry” actually meant “grape” in Old English. Today, a grape is still defined as a type of berry in botanical terms. This means that each fruit comes from a single flower on the grapevine.

How to the best ones

Just like any fruit and vegetable, you should give them a good inspection before placing them in your grocery cart. Choose grapes that are plump with consistent color and green stems. If you like crisp grapes, give them a little squeeze to ensure they are firm and not soft. After purchasing, be sure to keep them in the refrigerator.

Kitchen Tip: How to Clean Grapes – Protecting Your Fresh Produce

picking grapes from the field - main holding box of freshly picked black grapes

People have been cultivating grapes for more than 8,000 years.

Grapes are a huge business. Today, 72 million tons of grapes are grown each year worldwide. Worldwide grapes are grown on 25 million acres of land. Approximately 71% of these grapes are used to make wine, 27% are sold as fresh fruit, while around 2% are dried out for sweet and delicious raisins.

Wine grapes are sweeter than table grapes. That’s right, there are two different types of grapes, those used for winemaking, and those meant for eating.

The United States Is the Largest Importer

The United States Department of Agriculture reports that the US is the world’s largest importer of grapes for eating. In 2012, the US imported 568,000 tons of table grapes.

grapes for wine making - pictured two glasses filled with red wine

It takes 2 ½ pounds of grapes to make just one bottle of wine

There are more than a thousand grape types used in wine-making around the world. And on average it takes 2 1/2 pounds to make a bottle of wine. Some white wines are ready to be bottled after a few months of fermenting.

While most dry reds need 18-24 months of aging before bottling. California’s Napa Valley has the world’s largest concentration of wineries, with more than 200.

grapes are berries - pictured grapes with grape leaf

They are actually berries

They are related to strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. No wonder they all taste so good together mixed up in a smoothie! Grapes are the sixth largest crop produced in the United States.

german Shepard - grapes are toxic for dogs

Are very toxic to dogs

Yes, they are very toxic. Grapes and raisins can cause acute renal failure in dogs, so make sure they don’t get a hold of any. If they do, you will need to contact your vet to see what needs to be done.

healthy snacks - bento box filled with different types of berries - blueberries, green grapes, raspberries and cherries

They are a healthy snack

One cup of grapes contains 100 calories, and 25% of your daily requirements of vitamins K and C. They also contain no fat or cholesterol and are full of antioxidants.

This fruit also provides a good amount of B vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, and B6. Both thiamine and riboflavin are needed for growth and development. Psst! When frozen, they taste exactly like Popsicles but are much healthier without the added sugar.

Grape seeds are safe to eat and they are medicinal as well. They are 80% water, and when they dry on the vine to become raisins, they have a water content of 15%. Plus, grape seed oil can be taken as a daily supplement and is thought to improve circulation and reduce damage from free radicals in the environment.

grape vine with cluster of concord grapes

Grapevines can live for hundreds of years and still produce fruit

The oldest living grapevine today is more than 450 years old and still producing. The vine is located in Maribor, Slovenia near Austria and the Balkan mountains. The oldest living grave vine in North America is 400 years old and is located in North Carolina and is called the Mother Vine.

Spanish explorers brought grapes to the United States 300 years ago, and they can grow successfully in many parts of the country that are in zones 5 through 9. If you want to grow them you need to choose a varietal that is appropriate for your soil and growing zone.