Organic Grapes
Some people like to say "I get no kick from champagne," but I’d counter they have never tried Melissa’s sweet little globes of joy called Champagne Grapes. While not actually used for making champagne, these Corinth grapes (real name) are the smallest of all seedless grapes, which is one reason they are so popular. Though small and sweet, they do not have a very long shelf life - so eat them in a few days and let the flavor linger, as they have a very short season and only come around once a year.
If you can’t find them, 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 bursting 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 after harvest so you should choose grapes that are ready to eat. What do they look like?
- Organic 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 amazingly sweet 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 three to five days, stored in the plastic bag they come in or a sealed Tupperware container.
So 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 hours.) Frozen Melissa’s organic green, red or black grapes are the perfect way to change your hotness into 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 without it being a hassle? Take your frozen Melissa’s organic grapes, run them under lukewarm water until skins split, then just slide the skins right off and give a pop. By the time you’re done either 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 speaking of good moods, one of my favorite places to be is the ballpark, kicking back eating peanuts, taking in some baseball and enjoying Melissa’s produce. That’s right – Melissa’s organic carrots and red peppers, sliced and ready to go, are a perfect low fat game snack. And if you forget about them like I did at the Oakland A's game a couple weeks back, Melissa’s will even give you a subtle reminder on the scoreboard.
***Melissa’s produce is now available at many sports venues throughout the nation to bring you a healthy option while you watch your favorite team.
