The Most Romantic of Fruits, the Grape

By Uncle Paul

Today I would like to take you on a journey so far back in time that I am not sure of the day, the year, or even the century, to find the origin of this most romantic of fruits from the buckthorn family. The fruit that has a history as old as humanity can be black, blue, golden, green, purple, red, pink, brown, peach, or white in color. Grape seeds have been found in remains of lake dwellings of the Bronze Age in Switzerland and Italy and in tombs of Ancient Egypt. The early Egyptians were the first to make grapes into wine, one of the world’s finest symbols of romance. Egyptian reliefs from 2440 BC show vineyards and pictures of wine making. I personally think it was the caveman or women who made the first batch of wine.

Throughout all of history before this delicate fruit was fermented into a romantic beverage, grapes were linked as a symbol of love, fertility, and virility. The ancient Romans made both grapes and wine emblems of Bacchus, god of ecstasy (not to mention fertility). But before the Romans, the Greeks had a tradition of giving clusters to newlyweds in the belief that the grape’s seeds would bless the couple with many children. Grapes are a natural for the seducer’s arsenal of tools. The sweet jewels make a perfect finger food to hand-feed your loved one by that romantic evening fire.

Grape growing is the largest food industry in the world. There are about 25 million acres of grapes worldwide. The world production of grapes is over 72 million tons. There are more than 60 species and 8,000 varieties of grapes, and they can all be used to make juice or wine, raisins, and jellies, or simply be eaten by hand.

Grapes are about 80% water, making them a delectable low-calorie snack or dessert; a cup of Concord or Catawba grapes contains only about 60 calories. Grapes are also a source of fiber and are naturally low in sodium.

The California Grape Commission provides the following information about grapes:
A growing body of research from studies conducted in the US and abroad...suggests that fresh grapes may offer significant health benefits...finding positive links between grapes, the compounds in fresh grapes, and the ability to fight diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and illnesses associated with aging.

Grapes are rich in phytonutrients, which are biologically active substances in plant foods that help fight disease and enhance our health. Grape phytonutrients are well-known antioxidants that can protect cells from free-radical damage, and they have been shown to impact key steps in combating certain types of cancer, heart disease, and other age-related diseases.

Resveratrol is a unique phytonutrient found mainly in the skins of grapes. It is credited as the key source of the beneficial effects of drinking red wine and is present in the skins of all three colors of grapes. Resveratrol’s disease-fighting abilities appear to impact a wide variety of health issues. These include anti-inflammatory properties and the potential to protect against certain cancers, the influenza virus, and hearing loss, as well as contribute to increased longevity and help combat heart disease and other age-related diseases.

After resveratrol was identified in wine, non-wine drinkers naturally wished to know if they could gain the same benefits from drinking grape juice. Leroy Creasy, professor of pomology in the New York state College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell, analyzed several grape juice samples and found resveratrol in them even though they were not fermented like wine. It seems the method for pressing grapes for juice extracts the resveratrol as well. Additional research will examine raisins, jam, and other grape products for the presence of the phytonutrient.

So whether you are trying to win over someone’s heart or save your own, take along sweet, romantic, old-as-the-hills grapes, and do not peel them for your loved one. Grapes, skins and all, are a taste that wins over everyone’s heart.

Uncle Paul, along with his wife Calla, owns Uncle Paul’s European Style Open Air Produce Market, 2310 SE Hawthorne, 503-484-8612 or visit www.unclepaulsproduce.com