Show 382, July 18, 2020: Robert Schueller, Produce Authority, Melissa’s World Variety Produce Part One

Robert Schueller of Melissa's World Variety Produce in the AM830 KLAA StudioLots of fresh deliciousness going on in the wide world of specialty produce as it’s now Summer. Our own resident produce guru, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s, joins us to chat about the pick of the season’s best for fruits and vegetables. Think, for starters, variety grapes including Jelly Drops, Champagne Grapes and Muscato Grapes.

Jelly Drops® Grapes are a hybrid of the popular Thompson seedless grape and the rich, meaty Concord grape variety. The result is a plump, juicy, dark purple seedless table grape with a thin skin. The aromatic, earthy flavor is similar to Concord but mellowed by the mild sweetness of the Thompson.”

“Grown both in California, Chile and Peru, Red Muscatos™ are a year-round grape to keep all your grape needs satisfied. Packed with sweet floral accents and covered in red, apple-crisp skin, Red Muscatos™ are the perfect grape for any occasion. Not only do these grapes taste great, but they are also seedless for convenience and are the ideal crunchy texture.”

“Red Muscatos™ are great for snacking, for kids and adults alike. Add them into a fresh fruit n’ cheese platter for perfect fruit pairings, or sprinkle over yogurt.”

Show 283, July 28, 2018: Melissa’s Robert Schueller, Variety Summer Grapes

Melissa's Robert Schueller at the SoCal Restaurant Show 5th AnniversaryIt’s a great time to chat about cool and refreshing Summer fruits with our resident produce authority, The Prince of Produce, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce. Variety Summer California Grapes are trending.

A late-season variety grape with an extremely high sugar content, the Candy Sweets® name describes its great flavor! Though petite in size, this amber-green seedless grape has a big taste that makes it an excellent kids snack or lunchbox favorite. Serve a bunch or two on a party platter; this grape’s firm, crunchy texture and sweetness plays well against any extra sharp cheese. Choose grapes that are firm, with no bruises, decay or shatter (loose grapes that have fallen off the stem). Vine stems should to be green and pliable, never dried out.

Robert provides us with a great tip on enjoying these seasonal grapes for a longer period than the short time they are available fresh. Surprisingly they freeze well. Freeze them as whole clusters for best results.

Also the incredible Hatch Chile season will launch the first week in August. These flavorful peppers are exclusively grown in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico and are only available annually for a short season in August and part of September. They are considered by discriminating chile aficionados to be the best peppers in the world. We’ll get a fiery preview. More on Hatch Chiles and where to find a local store roasting on the upcoming August 11th show.

Show 132, July 25, 2015: Robert Schueller of Melissa’s World Variety Produce

Robert Schueller of Melissa's World Variety ProduceThe esteemed Price of Produce, Robert Schueller of Melissa’s, is back to update us on the fresh and juiciest grapes of Summer. New this year are Jelly Drops Grapes. Returning are the coveted Cotton Candy grapes.

Melissa’s Muscato grapes vary in color from green to red to black and are hybrids of some very special seedless grape varieties. They make a perfect summer snack with their crisp texture and mouthwatering, juicy interior. Muscato Grapes are much sweeter than the average grape, measuring at a brix (sweetness) level of at least 22 compared to the average grape brix of about 16.

Toss Muscato Grapes into a summer fruit salad, add to your favorite sauce, or eat right out of hand. These delectable summer treats are a great addition to any dessert.

Jelly Drops Grapes are a hybrid of the popular Thompson Seedless grape and the rich, meaty Concord grape. The result is a plump, juicy, dark purple seedless table grape with a thin skin. Their aromatic, earthy flavor is similar to that of a Concord, but mellowed by the mild sweetness of the Thompson. This variety is a perfect out of hand summer snack fruit or delicious when used as a sweet sauce ingredient for almost any kind of meat or poultry dish.

Cotton Candy Grapes™ are an unusual new hybrid variety developed over eight years by breeding wild grape species in California. As its name implies this grape has a distinctive flavor that does, remarkably, taste very much like the spun sugar confection. This is not a genetically engineered product; but rather a tedious hand-pollination process was employed that resulted over many seasons

The fruit has an initial burst of Cotton Candy flavor that recedes into a mild, juicy sweetness. Actually, these green to light yellow seedless grapes are low in acid and pleasantly sweet without being overly sugary. A great new healthy snack food for kids or the child in all of us!