Red Globe Grapes
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Red Globe grapes grow in cylindrical to conical, semi-loose bunches and are known for their large berry size, averaging 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter. Each berry is round and has medium-thick, smooth, tough, and taut skin. The skin ripens to varying shades of dark red, red-purple, bright red, and red-pink, depending on growing conditions, and is enveloped in a waxy blue-grey bloom. This bloom is a natural, protective coating that helps keep moisture from evaporating from the fruits and is edible. It can also be wiped from the surface, revealing a faint sheen. Red Globe grapes are a slip-skin variety, meaning their skin can be easily removed from the flesh. Underneath the surface, the translucent pale-green to purple-white flesh is firm, semi-crisp, and aqueous with a succulent, tender consistency. The flesh also encases a few tiny seeds. Red Globe grapes are edible raw once ripe and range from 15 to 18 Brix, a measurement of sugar in the flesh. This measurement indicates that the variety will have a mild, refreshing, sweet flavor with subtle fruity nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Red Globe grapes are harvested in the late summer through fall. The variety is grown in both hemispheres, allowing some markets to sell a year-round supply.
Current Facts
Red Globe grapes, botanically classified as Vitis vinifera, are a late-maturity variety belonging to the Vitaceae family. The large-fruited cultivar was developed in the mid-20th century in the United States and released as a commercial table grape. Red Globe grapes are one of the largest table grape cultivars found in markets and are easy-to-grow, highly productive, can tolerate cold storage, and withstand transport. The variety has expanded in cultivation worldwide and is grown on almost every continent. Red Globe grapes are named for their round appearance, large size, and coloring, and are grown in home gardens and commercial vineyards. The variety is primarily consumed fresh for its sweet, neutral taste, and is also incorporated into a wide array of sweet and savory culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Red Globe grapes are a source of fiber to aid digestion, and vitamins C and K assist in faster wound healing and strengthening the immune system. The variety also provides varying amounts of minerals like potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and phosphorus. These minerals help the body balance fluid levels, support bones and teeth, produce proteins for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, and control daily nerve functions. Red grapes also contain resveratrol, a polyphenol with antioxidant properties to reduce inflammation and protect overall bodily health.
Applications
Red Globe grapes have a sweet, subtly fruity taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is primarily eaten out of hand as a table grape and is enjoyed as a snack. Red Globe grapes are also served on cheese boards, halved and mixed into fruit medleys, or tossed into green salads. In Asia, Red Globe grapes are sometimes used as decoration for desserts or sliced and served in cakes and tarts. They are also occasionally added to cream-filled sandwiches as a sweet addition. Try blending and freezing Red Globe grapes into homemade sorbet or ice cream. Whole grapes can also be frozen and dropped into beverages as a natural, edible ice cube. In the United States and Europe, Red Globe grapes are favored for flavoring tarts, parfaits, cakes, crisps, and galettes. They are also simmered into jams, jellies, and other preserves. In addition to sweet recipes, Red Globe grapes complement savory dishes and are roasted as a side to meat. They are also mixed into grain dishes, blistered and served on crostini, or tossed with herbs and aromatics in pasta and risotto dishes. Red Globe grapes pair well with meats like pork, poultry, duck, and lamb, herbs including rosemary, thyme, mint, and basil, and spices like cinnamon, star anise, and cloves. Whole, unwashed Red Globe grapes can be left at room temperature for a few days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Red Globe grapes were used to win the title for the Largest Bunch of Grapes featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. The record was made on August 4th, 2018, in Spain by Sebastian Gomez Falcon and the Delegacion de Agricultura Del Ayuntamiento de Los Palacios y Villafranca. The Red Globe bunch weighed 10.12 kilograms and was grown using organic fertilizers. The bunch was initially presented at a local agriculture competition in Spain and was later verified by the Guinness World Records. Previously, the record for the Largest Bunch of Grapes was set in 1984 by a grower in Chile with a 9.4-kilogram bunch.
Geography/History
Red Globe grapes were developed in the United States by breeders Harold P. Olmo and Albert T. Koyama of the California Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of California, Davis. The variety was bred in 1957 and was created from multiple complex crosses. In the grape’s U.S. Plant Patent 4,787, the cross was described as L12-80 x S45-48, which includes Emperor, Hunisa, and Nocera grapes in its parentage. Approximately 298 seedlings of this cross were planted at the Sierra Vista Ranch of the DiGiorgio Fruit Corporation, and on May 27, 1958, a selection was made for further evaluation. The variety was later reproduced from a cutting and planted in 1964 at the Kearney Horticultural Field Station in Parlier, California. The variety was also tested at regional trials in the University Vineyard at the University of California, Davis, under the number 10-23D. Red Globe grapes were released to the public around 1981 and were specifically bred to supplement or be an improved table grape similar to Emperor grapes. Since their commercial release, Red Globe grapes have expanded in cultivation to grape-growing regions worldwide. The variety is among the most popular table grapes and is prevalently sold through fresh markets, retailers, and wholesalers worldwide. Major cultivation centers are found in the United States, China, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Turkey, Australia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina.
Red Globe Grapes for sale around the world shared on the Specialty Produce App
