New York grape breeders have produced a fruit that's so big and flavorful they've named it after Mount Everest.
The Everest Seedless is a new variety developed at Cornell University's agricultural research station in Geneva. Horticulture professor Bruce Reisch says the new fruit is a cold-tolerant, blue Concord-type grape with berries about twice the size of the traditional Concord.
While most American Concords are used for jam, juice or wine, the new one is intended as a table grape to be eaten fresh. It's the first truly seedless Concord.
Everest Seedless is exclusively licensed to Double A Vineyards in Fredonia, and vines can be purchased from them this fall. Reisch predicts it will be popular with home gardeners as well as professional growers.
