The Michigan Thomcorde Grape
another grape post coming your way
🍑 Welcome to 'Unforbidden Fruit' – Your Weekly Bite into Regional Fruit Delicacies! 🍇
Our second post! Each post we peel back the layers on a unique regional fruit variety—be it the succulent Georgia peaches, the tantalizing Michigan Thomcord grapes, or the zesty Sicilian lemons. Discover the artisans and growers who bring these treasures to life, learn mouthwatering recipes, and get insider tips on where to find these seasonal delights. Subscribe today for a tasteful trip you won’t forget, right from the comfort of your inbox.
Hope this whets your appetite for more! 🍋🍇🍑
“I felt pure, holy, clean…eating grapes was a sacrament.”
A Tapestry of Flavors
As you take a bite of a Michigan Thomcord grape, you are instantly greeted with a burst of summer encapsulated in a tiny, juicy orb. The grape's vivid, painterly hues of deep purple and blue are not just a feast for the eyes but a prelude to the flavor that awaits. As the delicate skin gives way, a rush of sweet and tart notes dance gracefully on your palate, transporting you to sun-dappled vineyards where laughter and joy echo under the azure sky. Each grape, a mini-celebration, urges you to savor the fleeting moment, evoking memories of simpler, golden times.
The Fruit Ridge: Where Nature and Tradition Converge
Thomcord grapes are a perfect union between the resilient Concord and the sweetly refined Thompson Seedless varieties. Developed by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which is a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), this unique cross-breeding work was released in 2003 and considered revolutionary as it kicked off a wave of fruit & vegetable cross-breeding.
In the fertile arms of Michigan’s farmland, these grapes find their ideal home. Michigan, particularly the Fruit Ridge (western side of the state), is renowned for its rich, loamy soils that are a product of glacial deposits, well-distributed rainfall, and moderated climate conditions fostered by the proximity to the Great Lakes. These factors, along with a history of sustainable farming practices, contribute to a thriving agricultural sector in Michigan, and yield some of the best grapes on earth: the Michigan Thomcord.
Culinary Inspirations
Start your morning with a delightful breakfast, pairing freshly plucked Thomcord grapes with a swirl of honey and a sprinkle of nuts over creamy Greek yogurt, encapsulating the freshness of Michigan mornings in a bowl.
For a leisurely afternoon, picture crafting a rustic tart where the grapes relinquish their jubilant sweetness, marrying harmoniously with a buttery, golden crust, promising a slice of home in every bite.
And as dusk approaches, gather around for a heartwarming dinner with a salad that pairs the jubilant sweetness of Thomcord grapes with crisp greens and a sprinkle of feta, creating a harmony of flavors that speaks of love and community.
Where & when to get it?
Michigan Thomcorde season is short but sweet, usually running from late August to Early October. Thomcorde grapes are so popular that they are usually available at a grocery store near you - Aldi has them in stock now. However, to get that best version, the Michigan strain, you probably have to visit the state or at least get close. The Klug Farm, a great small farm just a few hours outside Chicago allows you to pre-order and pickup in Michigan or Chicago. I personally visit this farm a few times a year, and can vouch for the quality:
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