BAKERSFIELD, CA - In May, we introduced you to a local fruit breeder who created a cotton candy flavored grape species. The harvest is ready and we're putting it to the test.
After a detailed pollination process and months of waiting, cotton candy grapes are finally here. It's true, they taste and even smell like cotton candy.
When you walk into this vineyard south of Bakersfield, you can smell a sweet aroma. There's no county fair in sight, look around and all you'll find are grapes, but they aren't an ordinary variety.
Grapery CEO Jim Beagle said, "They taste exactly like cotton candy. We've had quite a few blind tastings where we don't tell people what it is they're going to be tasting, the first thing they say is cotton candy."
A local fruit breeder created the flavor by cross pollinating wild grape species. This season, The Grapery produced the first commercial harvest.
From LA to New York, cotton candy grapes are being sold all over the country, but they're grown right here in Kern County.
"A lot of customers excited to get to try the grapes for the first time. The real test will come if they, once they try them and if they want to keep reordering them, but so far, it's very promising and a little overwhelming for how little volume we have this year," said Beagle.
He says the production of cotton candy grapes isn't big enough to be sold to larger retailers, making them difficult to find, unless you know where to look.
Although they're being sold across the United States, in Bakersfield you can only find them in one place.
Sweet Surrender customer service representative said, "People were just pouring in to get them."
Sweet Surrender is the only local retailer selling cotton candy grapes.
English said, "We cornered a little market on them and people know that. So when it's grape season they come in and they know this is the only place they can get it."
If the demand grows, Beagle says production will as well. Cotton candy grapes sell locally for about $5 a pound. Beagle says he's heard of prices ranging from $3.99 up to more than $10 a pound. The grapes will be available for about a month.
After a detailed pollination process and months of waiting, cotton candy grapes are finally here. It's true, they taste and even smell like cotton candy.
When you walk into this vineyard south of Bakersfield, you can smell a sweet aroma. There's no county fair in sight, look around and all you'll find are grapes, but they aren't an ordinary variety.
Grapery CEO Jim Beagle said, "They taste exactly like cotton candy. We've had quite a few blind tastings where we don't tell people what it is they're going to be tasting, the first thing they say is cotton candy."
A local fruit breeder created the flavor by cross pollinating wild grape species. This season, The Grapery produced the first commercial harvest.
From LA to New York, cotton candy grapes are being sold all over the country, but they're grown right here in Kern County.
"A lot of customers excited to get to try the grapes for the first time. The real test will come if they, once they try them and if they want to keep reordering them, but so far, it's very promising and a little overwhelming for how little volume we have this year," said Beagle.
He says the production of cotton candy grapes isn't big enough to be sold to larger retailers, making them difficult to find, unless you know where to look.
Although they're being sold across the United States, in Bakersfield you can only find them in one place.
Sweet Surrender customer service representative said, "People were just pouring in to get them."
Sweet Surrender is the only local retailer selling cotton candy grapes.
English said, "We cornered a little market on them and people know that. So when it's grape season they come in and they know this is the only place they can get it."
If the demand grows, Beagle says production will as well. Cotton candy grapes sell locally for about $5 a pound. Beagle says he's heard of prices ranging from $3.99 up to more than $10 a pound. The grapes will be available for about a month.