Leslie Massey
Cotton Candy grapes, also known as fairy floss grapes, are a variety of sweet white table grapes that were first commercially grown and sold in California in 2011. They were developed by horticulturist David Cain and his team at International Fruit Genetics (IFG). These grapes are not genetically modified; instead, they were created through cross-breeding different grape varieties to combine the sweetness of Concord grapes with the firmness of common grapes. In 2018, Cotton Candy grapes became available in Australian supermarkets and fruit shops, grown by local growers using special budwood from America. The unique flavour and aroma of these grapes make them a popular choice, although their higher price point may deter some consumers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Green |
| Flavour | Cotton candy |
| Sweetness | 19-20 degrees Brix (most grapes measure 17-18 degrees Brix) |
| Texture | Medium-sized, elongated, slightly soft |
| Place of Origin | Bakersfield, California |
| Developer | Horticulturist David Cain and his team at International Fruit Genetics (IFG) |
| Commercial Grower | Grapery, California |
| Availability | Mid-January to March/mid-April |
| Storage | Refrigerate and rinse before consumption |
| Health Benefits | Contains potassium for muscle function |
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What You'll Learn
Cotton Candy grapes are grown in Australia
Cotton Candy grapes are indeed grown in Australia. They were first grown in the US, where they were developed by horticulturist David Cain and his team at Bakersfield, California-based fruit breeder International Fruit Genetics (IFG). The grapes were first commercially grown in California by grower Grapery, which began selling them in 2011.
The Cotton Candy grape is a variety of sweet white table grape of the cultivar IFG Seven. Its flavour has been compared to cotton candy, and it measures between 19 and 20 degrees Brix, a measurement of a fruit's sweetness; most grapes measure between 17 and 18 Brix.
In Australia, Mildura-based grower Adrian Caia planted the first 50 acres of cotton candy grapes about four years ago, as of March 2018. He said the breeder in America had used special budwood, which was a graft of root stock of plants from different parts of the world, "to crossbreed the different varieties together to create the flavour".
In Australia, Cotton Candy grapes are available in supermarkets and fruit shops from mid-January until March/mid-April. They are grown in South West WA & Sunraysia. The grapes are not the result of genetic modification.
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They are sweeter than average grapes
Cotton Candy grapes are indeed sweeter than average grapes. They were developed by horticulturist David Cain and his team at Bakersfield, California-based fruit breeder International Fruit Genetics (IFG). The grapes were first commercially grown in California by grower Grapery, which began selling them in 2011.
The Cotton Candy grape was created by hybridizing two grape species: a type of Concord-like grape and a variety of Vitis vinifera, a common grape found in grocery stores. The result was a sugary-sweet hybrid with about 12% more sugar than typical store-bought grapes. For every 100 grams of grapes, there is about 18 grams of sugar.
The sweetness of Cotton Candy grapes is natural, and they do not contain any additional sugar when compared to other grape varieties. They also contain health-supporting vitamin C and antioxidants. These grapes typically measure between 19 and 20 degrees Brix, a measurement of a fruit's sweetness, while most grapes measure between 17 and 18 Brix.
The process of creating a new grape hybrid can take at least six years and sometimes up to 15 years. The goal of developing the Cotton Candy grape was to create a large, juicy grape with a longer shelf life that tasted just like candy. The unique green grape variety has a perfumed, sweet taste reminiscent of cotton candy or fairy floss.
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The grapes are not genetically modified
Cotton candy grapes are not genetically modified. They were developed by horticulturist David Cain, a fruit geneticist and former USDA researcher, and his team at Bakersfield, California-based fruit breeder International Fruit Genetics (IFG). The process began when Cain came across a purple Concord grape that tasted sweet like cotton candy but was fragile with tiny seeds. He then licensed this grape and began working to improve its size and texture by crossbreeding it with sturdier California grapes. Over twelve years, a hundred thousand plants were created and grown in test tubes before the Cotton Candy variety of grape was achieved. In 2010, IFG patented the grape and began licensing it to growers, including California grower Grapery, which first commercially grew and sold the grapes in 2011.
The Cotton Candy grape is a trademarked name for a variety of sweet white grapes of the cultivar IFG Seven. They measure between 19 and 20 degrees Brix, a measurement of a fruit's sweetness, while most grapes measure between 17 and 18 Brix. This makes them "probably sweeter than the average grape, but within the range of sweetness," according to Jim Beagle, the CEO of Grapery.
While Cotton Candy grapes are not genetically modified, they are considered "designer-made." This means that they were created through a manual process of crossbreeding and hand pollination, rather than through genetic engineering or the use of artificial flavors.
In Australia, Cotton Candy grapes are grown by Mildura-based grower Adrian Caia, who planted the first 50 acres of cotton candy grapes about four years ago. He obtained the special budwood from a breeder in America, which was a graft of root stock from plants from different parts of the world, allowing for the crossbreeding of different varieties to create the unique flavor.
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They were first commercially grown in California
Cotton Candy grapes were first commercially grown in California by grower Grapery, which began selling them in 2011. The grapes were developed by horticulturist David Cain, a fruit geneticist and former USDA researcher. Cain co-founded the company International Fruit Genetics (IFG) in Bakersfield in 2001. A few months after forming the company, he attended a trade show where researchers from the University of Arkansas were showcasing grapes. One particular grape caught his attention: a purple Concord grape that tasted sweet like cotton candy but was fragile with tiny seeds.
Intrigued by this unique variety, Cain licensed the grape and embarked on a journey to enhance its size and texture. He achieved this by crossbreeding the grapes with sturdier California grapes. Over twelve years, a hundred thousand plants were meticulously created and grown in test tubes, leading to the birth of the Cotton Candy variety. In 2010, IFG patented the grape and began licensing it to growers, including California-based Grapery.
Grapery, founded in 1996 by Jack Pandol, a UC Davis plant scientist graduate and third-generation grape grower, played a pivotal role in bringing Cotton Candy grapes to the market. According to Jim Beagle, the CEO of Grapery, these grapes are "probably sweeter than the average grape, but within the range of sweetness." They measure between 19 and 20 degrees Brix, a measurement of a fruit's sweetness, while most grapes fall within the range of 17 to 18 Brix.
The journey of Cotton Candy grapes from their initial cultivation in California to their eventual availability in Australian supermarkets and fruit shops took several years. Growers in Australia embraced the unique variety, grafting root stock from plants worldwide to create the distinct cotton candy flavour through crossbreeding.
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Cotton Candy is a trademarked name
In 2010, IFG patented the grape and began licensing it to growers, including California grower Grapery, which first commercially grew and sold the grapes in 2011. To create the Cotton Candy variety, Cain hand-pollinated millions of grapes to cross-pollinate and combine the sweet Concord grapes with common grapes, resulting in a firmer texture and unique flavour.
The trademark "Cotton Candy" for these grapes is an example of an arbitrary mark, as it is unrelated to the actual product, which are grapes and not candy. Arbitrary marks are considered strong trademarks because they are unique and stand out, making them easier to protect and register compared to merely descriptive marks.
In Australia, Cotton Candy grapes are grown by Mildura-based grower Adrian Caia, who planted the first 50 acres about four years ago. The grapes are available in supermarkets and fruit shops, although they are considered a specialty item due to their higher price point compared to other grape varieties.
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Frequently asked questions
Cotton candy grapes are a variety of sweet white grapes that taste like cotton candy.
Cotton candy grapes were developed by horticulturist David Cain and his team at Bakersfield, California-based fruit breeder International Fruit Genetics (IFG). The grapes were created by cross-breeding a purple Concord grape with common grapes to improve size and texture.
Yes, cotton candy grapes have been available in Australian supermarkets and fruit shops since 2018.
The cotton candy grapes grown in Australia are not genetically modified. They are grown using special budwood, which is a graft of root stock from plants from different parts of the world.
Cotton candy grapes are a healthy snack option as they contain potassium for muscle function. However, they are very sweet and have a higher price point compared to other varieties of grapes.
