Oh yes, I’ve talked about these concord grapes before! (One of my major pregnancy cravings last year, you might remember!)
When they come but once a year, partaking in their deliciousness is even more savored and appreciated. Fall (my favorite season) is all the sweeter with grapes to look forward to! I’ve noticed that the more we eat locally, with the seasons, the more grateful we are for our food. When we wait for each beloved food during it’s season, it tastes all the better once it’s finally ready. You know what I mean? Of course we’ll be able to enjoy what we’ve put away (dried, frozen, canned, fermented) for the winter, but we’ll only eat each local food fresh, in season, in that small window of time. That makes the experience something extra special.
And it makes me excited for each season!
I was never very enthused about grapes until I tried these, but that’s because the only ones I had ever eaten were the overly-sweet ones from the store that were shipped from who knows where (and picked long before they were ready.) When I tasted these grapes, picked at the peak of ripeness, with their tart skins, their juicy centers, their satisfyingly crunchy seeds…. I felt I was eating a real grape for the first time in my life!
These particular favorite concord grapes of ours, grow in our neighbor’s backyard (a place I refer to as “Grape Heaven.”) We got starts off the infamous plant in the spring and Jeff has been caring for them in the greenhouse ever since (thank you!) Someday we will plant our very own Grape Heaven here, with succulent clusters everywhere.
In the meantime, we’re grateful that our neighbors like to give us grapes in exchange for us making them some jam. And we’ll savor each and every divine bite (and practice self-control while refraining from eating them all at once!)
Do you love concord grapes?
Have you been partaking in luscious local grapes lately?
I love them, have had a vine for years, it has produced maybe a handful of grapes. I am not deterred. Planted another one in a pot last year.
I ADORE concord grapes – I truly obsess over them when they are in season. They are the most delicious little gems – YUM!
Yes! I love concord grapes. I first tried them years ago at the Salmonberry Farmer’s Market. I think Fred brought them in. After that first taste I was totally hooked. Sadly, I haven’t seen or had any since those years at that market. We hope to grow our own too at some point.