August ushers in grape harvesting season in the Central Valley. It is the time of year when crews harvest grapes and lay them on paper trays in the sunshine. Three weeks of consistent sunshine work their magic, resulting in the California Raisin.
Fresno, California currently produces half the world’s raisins. The consistent summer temperatures provide the ideal drying conditions necessary to produce the sun-dried fruit.
In 1872, California Scottish immigrant William Thompson imported the Sultanina seedless grape from a cutting he imported from Rochester, NY. The hearty variety thrived in the hot California summers. In 1875, unaware of the grape’s formal name, Thompson dubbed them Thompson’s seedless grapes.
Today, 95% of California raisins are produced from Thompson’s seedless grapes.
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