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Niagara is the leading
American green grape, just as its cousin, the
It was in 1868 that two grape growers from Niagara County, N.Y., C.L. Hoag and B.W. Clark, tried cross breeding the Concord grape with the white Cassady grape. Their experiment was successful and four years later, their new vine bore its first fruit: large, luminescent grapes that changed from light green to a delicate yellow as the growing season advanced. Noted for their handsome, showy appearance, the Niagara’s are also characterized by their pleasant aroma which echoes the unique sweet-to-tart taste of Welch's White Grape Juice. Niagara grapes were first sold commercially in 1882. Much of the early popularity of the Niagara was due to the novel way in which the variety was sold to the public. For many years after its origin, the entire stock of the grape was owned by the Niagara Grape Company. This unique method of distribution enabled Niagara promoters to advertise it to an extent not equaled in the dissemination of any other grape. Today, many National members grow Niagara grapes in northern regions where they thrive -- New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Washington, Ohio, and Canada. |
