Facts About Concord Grapes & Products
FAQ
How Concord Grape Jelly is Made
Variety of Concord Grape Products
Juice Products Association
How Grape Juice is Made
Vineyards are the starting point. Expert horticulturists and growers work constantly to improve the quality of grapes. At the peak of ripeness, usually in October, grapes are harvested. Almost 99 percent of the harvesting today is done by mechanical harvesters, large machines that pass over the vine and literally vibrate the grapes from their stems into troughs.
The mechanical harvesters automatically empty the grapes from the troughs into one-ton boxes which are carried by truck to a processing plant. A federal inspector then carefully scrutinizes the grapes to insure they meet rigid sugar solids and color standards. The grapes are then weighed and delivered to a receiving area where a rotating fork lift truck removes the one-ton boxes from the truck and empties them into a hopper.
A conveyor or pump then transports the grapes from the hopper into a destemming machine. Revolving perforated cylinders agitate the grapes and paddles push them through holes into a collecting trough. The holes are just big enough for the grapes and any remaining stems won’t go through. The grapes and juice are caught in a trough and pumped into a receiving tank.
Next comes a heating process whereby the grapes are fed into a heated vat. The heat brings out the full, rich color and flavor of the Concord grapes. The mixture is then pumped into hot collecting tanks where the grapes are agitated and transferred to a dejuicer. The dejuicer screens out the free juice from the pulp, seeds and skins (called “free run juice”).
This juice goes into another collecting tank and is then filtered and pumped through continuous heat exchangers where it is heated briefly to a temperature of 185F to destroy microorganisms which could cause fermentation (pasteurization). The juice is then passed through a machine which chills it almost to the freezing point and is stored in refrigerated tanks. Any juice remaining in the dejuiced grapes is pressed out, filtered, and put through the same pasteurization process and pumped into storage tanks. The pulp, skins and seeds are returned to the growers’ vineyards for mulch.
Before Concord grape juice hits your grocery store shelf, it goes through two more pasteurization processes -- once prior to bottling and once after bottling to protect the contents against spoilage. Strict quality control measures are taken throughout the entire process to guarantee that each finished container meets the highest standards.
And Concord grape juice is not just juice -- it is used in a variety of products, including jellies, jams and juice drinks.
How Concord Grape Jelly is Made
To make jelly, Concord grape juice is drawn from the large storage tanks and piped into a cookroom where it enters a stainless steel batching kettle. Other ingredients like sugar and corn syrup are then added according to a specific recipe and the mixture is blended. The blend is then transferred into a vacuum kettle where pectin is added. After a short cooking time under high vacuum, only the grape jelly remains. The jelly enters finishing kettles and is then pumped to the automatic filling lines where the product is put into jars. Quality control inspections are conducted throughout the process. Similar processes are used to make Concord grape jams and fruit spreads.
The Concord grape is not only an outstanding juice producer but also helps fill millions of jars with jams, jellies and preserves--which find their way to breakfast, lunch and dinner tables as well as in sandwiches and snacks. Concord grapes are used in bakery products, confections, yogurt, fruit smoothies, and as a blend in cold duck and wines.
AS CONCORD GRAPE JUICE: Processed straight from the grape, deep-purple Concord grape juice--rich in quick-energy sugars -- is marketed in bottles, cans, as frozen concentrate, shelf stable concentrate and in vending machines and fountain dispensers. Delicious all by itself, grape juice can also be an ingredient in pungent hot and icy cold drinks from the punchbowl, blender and bar, in soups, entrees, salads, desserts and frozen specialties.
AS CONCORD GRAPE DRINKS: The Concord grape’s distinctive flavor blends equally well with other juices, and enhances them. Drinks are available as grapeade, apple-grape, cranberry-grape and in ready-to-drink punches mixed with orange, grapefruit, lemon, pear and pineapple juices.
AS CONCORD GRAPE JELLY: Clear, firm and sparkling, Concord grape jelly is made from the juice of the grape and is firm enough to hold its shape when turned out of its container. Concord grape is America’s favorite jelly flavor.
AS CONCORD GRAPE JAM: Pureed grapes are cooked with sugar until thick, or “jammed” together. A grape jam patent was first issued to Paul Welch in 1917 for the pureeing of grapes. He called the product “Grapelade.” The initial quantity was purchased entirely by the U.S. Army and shipped to France for consumption by the troops during World War I. The product was then demanded by the troops when they returned to civilian life.
AS CONCORD GRAPE PRESERVES: Grapes with their seeds removed are cooked with sugar or in a heavy syrup until tender. The fruit remains whole, and the syrup becomes thick and transparent.
The Food and Drug Administration established standards of identity for jams, jellies, preserves and fruit butters in 1940. In the U.S. today, approximately 1 billion pounds of fruit spreads are produced annually. Grape jelly and grape jam are two of the most popular products. For more information about jams, jellies, and preserves, visit the IJPA Web Site.
OTHER USES: Concord grapes are also used for flavorings -- such as in gum and candy; ice creams, sherbets and milk shakes; gelatin desserts; fillings for cakes, doughnuts, cream puffs. These grapes are also used in the preparation of cream of tartar, an ingredient in baking powder.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q. | Is Currant Jelly the same as Grape Jelly? |
| A. |
Currants are a very different fruit than Concord grapes; currants come in two colors, red and black. Red is sold in small quantities in the Northwest, primarily for jams and jellies. Black currants are also used in jams and jellies, but is primarily European in origin (some from Canada) and is a popular spread in Europe. Currants are bush berries; Concords grow on a vine. Grape Jelly is made with grape juice concentrate. Concord grape jelly should be made from 100% Concord grape juice concentrate or single-strength juice. Current jelly is made from red currants for the most part in the U.S; in Europe, it's almost always black currants, but currant jelly can be made from red, black or white currants. |
| Q. | What is the difference in a Concord grape and a purple grape? |
| A. |
Concord grapes are purple and are just one variety of purple grapes. Purple grapes include all grapes of that color, one of which is the Concord grape. Concord grapes are native to North America and are of the slip-skin category, whereas most grapes are of the European varieties whose skin is attached to the meat. This allows the latter varieties to be stored in cold rooms, shipped to fresh market and eaten as table grapes, etc. |
| Q. | Why can't I find Concord grapes in the grocery store? |
| A. |
Most Concords are grown for the juice business and are not a popular table grape (perhaps due to the presence of seeds.) Concord grapes do not hold up for in-store sales off the produce market. In the last few years, some local stores have tried to sell Concords pre-packaged, but it is a very small deal. |
| Q. | Where can I buy vines/seedlings? |
| A. | In the West, a good source of concord cuttings is Fairacre Nursery, 155608 King Tull Road, Prosser, WA 99350 or phone (509) 786-2974.Ask for Vern Brown. |
| A. | Inland Desert Nursery, 32508 W. Kelly Road, Benton City, WA 99320, phone: (509) 588-6615, e-mail: sales@idnursery.com or web site: www.idnursery.com. Ask for Kevin Judkins. |
| Q. | How can you distinguish Concord grapes from other dark seeded grapes? |
| A. | Concord grapes are slip-skins vs the European fixed skin varieties. |
| Q. | Can Concord grapes be frozen? |
| A. | Anything can be frozen, but why freeze Concords? Thompson seedless, for example, is a great grape to freeze and take in the car for a cool treat. Frozen Concords would be messy, with seeds, and you don't really "chew" Concords - you suck them out of their skin to get the juice and flavor and swallow the grape whole (after you separate the seeds). You eat them somewhat like oysters. |
For a list of companies that process Concord grapes
Copyright © 2004 Concord Grape Association