Tag: Fruit breeding

First introduced in 2011, Cotton Candy grapes have amazed consumers with their uncanny, circus-like sweetness. Despite widespread assumptions, the remarkable flavor is not due to artificial additives or infusions. The answer to "is anything added to cotton candy grapes?" is a definitive no, as their unique taste is a result of natural fruit breeding and careful hybridization.

In 1872, an Iowa farmer repeatedly tried to destroy a chance apple seedling, but it was a nursery owner's exclamation years later that cemented the name, perfectly explaining why they are called Red Delicious. This single fruit's story is a fascinating tale of horticultural persistence and marketing savvy.

According to the U.S. Apple Association, the Cosmic Crisp apple has become a significant player in the market since its release. But what are the new apples called beyond this popular variety? Modern apple breeding programs have introduced a wave of successors to the Honeycrisp, each offering unique textures and flavors to satisfy every palate.

Over two decades of cross-breeding wild, red-fleshed crabapples with classic dessert apples has led to the commercial rise of apples with vibrantly colored interiors. This horticultural innovation is producing delicious new apples that are red inside, offering a compelling blend of sweet-tart flavors and powerful antioxidants.

First developed by International Fruit Genetics and grown by The Grapery, the gumdrop grape is a naturally bred specialty fruit known for its intense sweetness. This unique table grape variety has captured the attention of sweet-toothed consumers by offering a distinctive, candy-like flavor reminiscent of its namesake treats.

The Red Delicious, once America's most popular apple, was dethroned in 2018 after holding the top spot for over five decades. While its deep red color and conical shape are instantly recognizable, many modern consumers avoid this once-celebrated fruit. The iconic fruit's fall from grace is a story of commercial priorities overshadowing consumer desires, leading to a bland and unsatisfying eating experience.

In 2018, the Gala apple officially dethroned the Red Delicious as the most produced apple in the US, ending its 50-year reign. This seismic shift in consumer preference highlights a critical question for many fruit shoppers: are Red Delicious real apples, or simply a beautiful, waxy imposter?

First introduced to the market in 2011, Cotton Candy grapes have a distinct, spun-sugar flavor profile that sets them apart from traditional table grapes. This unique taste is the result of a careful, non-GMO cross-breeding process, not artificial flavoring or added sugars. For those with a sweet tooth looking for a healthier alternative to candy, this fruit has become a popular choice.

According to agricultural researchers, cotton candy grapes can have a Brix measurement (a scale measuring fruit's sweetness) of 19–20 degrees, making them noticeably sweeter than most regular table grapes. This hybrid variety delivers a uniquely sweet flavor profile reminiscent of the popular carnival treat, leading many consumers to question: are cotton candy grapes sweeter than regular grapes?

Over 7,000 years of domestication have transformed the banana from a fruit full of large, hard seeds into the seedless variety we know today. These small black specks that occasionally appear are not viable seeds, but the vestigial remnants of a wilder past.