How Grape Is That?

Starting in early summer, they start to arrive in stores and brighten produce departments everywhere. They are colorful, sweet, and so convenient to pack for school lunches and quick afternoon snacks. By now, I’m sure you have figured out that I am talking about GRAPES. And even though you have seen and eaten them already this year, you will want to get yourself some Melissa’s organic seedless grapes right now, as these beautiful green, black, and red varieties are so easy to eat and burst with flavor.

How to Choose Your Grapes:

Check the stem; it should be green, not brown, with firm, plump clusters securely attached to the tiny stem branches. If they fall off easy, they won’t hold up for long once you get them home.

Buyers note! Grapes do not ripen or sweeten, so you should choose grapes that are ready-to-eat. What does that look like? Red and black varieties should be fully colored and not show any hints of green. As the month wears on, green grapes will display a slight amber tint when ripe. When they start to show this amber color, they are amazing but don’t last long due to their high sugar content, so eat them quickly.

When you get your Melissa’s organic grapes home, they can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three to five days, stored in the plastic tote or container they come in or move to a sealed Tupperware container.

For the best flavor, serve them slightly chilled to enhance their natural crispness.

As summer lingers, you may find yourself in a situation where you’re hot, the house is hot, and you and your partner are a little grumpy from the heat. Don’t fret; remember the grapes you put in the freezer last night? (Did you forget? No worries, go do it now—they’ll be frozen within a couple of hours.) Frozen Melissa’s organic green, red or black grapes are the perfect way to change your hotness into delightful coolness with sweet, tasty pleasure. You can even use them as ice cubes in a glass of lemonade or gin and tonic. Heck, if you really want to have fun, peel them and toss them into each other’s mouths.

Not sure how to peel grapes?

Take your frozen Melissa’s organic grapes, run them under lukewarm water until the skins split, then just slide the skins right off and give a pop. By the time you’re done savoring frozen ones or peeling and popping them, the day will have cooled down—and if it hasn’t, you’ll be in a better mood.

And how grape is that?