The Bronx Grape is Back in New York

In 1925 the Concord grape and the Thompson grape were hybridized by Dr. A. B. Stout of the New York Botanical Garden in conjunction with the Cornell Biological Field Station in Geneva, New York. Of the 68 seedlings raised, the Bronx Seedless was selected and then officially named in 1937. It boasts the robust, musty, plummy flavor of the Concord grape and the tender texture of the Thompson grape.

As the Bronx grape ripens, they change from slightly tart, firm, pale green grapes to a grape with a honey-like taste, delicate skin and rosy pink color. A ripe Bronx grape has a light, floral perfume and a tutti fruitti/ tropical flavor with enough acid to balance its lush, candied sweetness.  The grapes are highly vulnerable to splitting while in transit as their thin skins fracture with even the slightest piercing, which explains why production is still so limited.

Currently only two mother vines exist. John Lagier, of Lagier Ranches is the only producer in California to have obtained cuttings of the original Bronx grapevines. Lagier grows organic Bronx grapes on his vineyard in Northern California and sells the grapes at San Francisco Bay Area farmers' markets.

Baldor now receives these delicate beauties during their short run from mid-to-late August. 

You can read more about the Bronx grapes on Food52 and the New York Times!

WHERE TO FIND THE BRONX GRAPES:

NEW YORK

Agata & Valentina

1505 1st Ave.

New York, New York

Eataly

200 Fifth Ave & 1 Liberty St

New York, New York

Anne's Market

1330 Lexington Ave.

New York, New York

Eli Zbar's Farm to Market

89 E 42nd St

New York, New York

Gourmet Glatt

137 Spruce Street

Cedarhurst, New York

Pomegranate

1507 Coney Island Ave

Brooklyn, New York

NEW JERSEY

Cafasso's Fairway Market

1214 Anderson Ave.

Fort Lee, New Jersey

CONNECTICUT

Double LL Market

730 Post Road East

Westport, Connecticut 

Walter Steward Market

229 Elm Street

New Cannan, Connecticut