Table grapes for our climes
By James D. Ritchie

New varieties boost Midwest grape growing

For years, California growers have had a lock on bigger markets for “eating” grapes. But University of Arkansas fruit breeders are making inroads in smaller, local markets with a selection of seedless table grape varieties that have a more distinctive “grape” flavor.

Joining the considerable Arkansas line-up of table grapes are Jupiter, a blue-skinned variety, and Neptune, a white grape. Both were developed in 1999. UArk secured patents on both varieties 2 years ago. The university licenses distributors across the mid-South.

Jupiter and Neptune are the fifth and sixth table grapes developed by UArk. Earlier releases are Venus (1977), Reliance (1983), Mars (1985) and Saturn (1989). The fruit breeding program at Arkansas was begun by Jim Moore (now retired) and is being carried on by John Clark, fruit breeder for the Arkansas Ag Experiment Station. UArk has released 40 varieties, including ornamentals, and patented 25 of them, including several table grape varieties.

Jupiter is a purplish-blue grape, with a large berry, non-slip skin and crisp texture.

“At Clarksville [Ark.], it matures in late July, which makes Jupiter a medium-early grape,” said John Clark. “It is very productive and very sweet, with a distinctive Muscat flavor. The major feature that makes Jupiter stand out is its flavor. It’s one of my favorite grapes—very nice to eat.

 “Jupiter has gone to smaller producers, for the most part,” added Clark. “It fits well in local markets and for home vineyards. While Jupiter was developed for the Mid-South, it thrives as far north as West Lafayette, Indiana. We intended this variety to give Arkansas growers a step up in quality, and it has performed very well in that way.”

Neptune is the first white table grape released by Arkansas breeders. The variety produces large clusters of attractive yellowish-green (when ripe) berries, and has a distinctive “fruity” flavor.

“Neptune has a non-slip skin texture,” said Clark. “Not many white table grapes are produced in the eastern part of the country. Neptune provides a white grape cultivar for Arkansas growers and other eastern growers.

 “The berries are seedless, or have only traces of soft seeds that are not noticeable when the fruit is eaten. It’s resistant to skin cracking, which is often a problem with white or green table grapes.”

Neptune ripens a bit later than Jupiter; in early to mid-August. And it may not be as winter hardy. Both varieties show some resistance to common fungal diseases.

“However, downy mildew and black rot can be problems with both Jupiter and Neptune,” said Clark. “Both of these diseases can be managed with normal commercial fungicide sprays, and both will need to be sprayed nearly every year.”

The first fruit patent was issued to the University of Arkansas for Reliance grape, back in 1983. Since then, 24 other patents have been awarded for grapes, peaches, nectarines, blackberries and blueberries. With more than 10 varieties released, blackberries have been a star of the Arkansas program.

“Everyone in the industry knows about Arkansas blackberries,” said Clark. “Arkansas-developed blackberries are growing on every continent except Antarctica.

“Royalties on patented varieties have been a mainstay of the Arkansas fruit breeding program,” Clark added. “Public fruit-breeding programs have been scaled back or discontinued in many other states. Our program has thrived, thanks largely to royalties on patents. The royalties on patents help insure that we will continue fruit breeding in Arkansas, primarily for Arkansas and the surrounding region.”

Arkansas table grapes may not elbow California out of the big fresh grape markets any time soon, but superior eating grapes such as Jupiter and Neptune are carving a niche in smaller, localized markets.