Grape

fruit · farming · sweet

Berries in bunches. Grapes grow in clusters called bunches, and botanically they're actually berries, not just any fruit. Each grape is a small, round fruit packed with juice and seeds.

Vines that climb. Grapes grow on woody vines called Vitis that are deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves in winter. These vines can live for over 100 years and naturally want to climb up trees and walls.

Doesn't ripen after picking. Unlike bananas or peaches, grapes are non-climacteric fruits, which means they stop ripening as soon as you pick them. This is why farmers pick them only when they're perfectly ripe on the vine.

Makes wine and raisins. Humans have been growing grapes for over 8,000 years to make wine, juice, and raisins. Different grape varieties create different flavors, colors, and sweetness levels for all these uses.

Grows almost everywhere. Grapes thrive in many parts of the world, from California to France to Australia. They need warm, sunny weather and well-drained soil to produce the sweetest, juiciest fruits.