Crimson is a slightly elongated light-red seedless grape with good levels of sweetness and an attractive appearance. The skin colour varies from pink to dark pink-red, often with a pale green stem-end. The flesh is greenish-white and has a medium level of crispness, often with a satisfying crack. On biting, there is slight resistance from the peel, which is a little chewy, but not bitter. Flavour is limited.
Crimson is a late-season grape and popular with supermarkets due to its excellent storage capability which allows for a long sales period from any one region. For many years, Crimson has been the mainstay of the late season supply of red seedless grapes, though newer varieties are starting to erode that dominance.
Good Fruit Guide Rating: ***
For consumers, Crimson grapes are a reliably sweet choice with a good crisp texture.
Crisp cracking, sweet.
Names: Crimson; Crimson Seedless; C102-26
Origin: Crimson Seedless, or C102-26, is the result of five generations of crosses at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Horticultural Field Station in Fresno, California, starting in 1926. In very simple terms, the seedlessness comes from Sultanina (aka Thompson Seedless), and the red colour from Emperor. The final selection was made in 1983. Crimson Seedless is a registered variety of Sun World International, California
Grown in: Crimson is grown in most of the main table grape regions.
Availability: Source countries for Europe are generally South Africa, Chile, Spain, Italy, Greece and USA.
- January: South Africa, Chile
- February: South Africa, Chile
- March: South Africa, Chile
- April: Chile
- May: Chile
- June: Mexico
- July: Egypt
- August: Spain, Italy
- September: Spain, Italy, Greece
- October: Spain, Italy, USA
- November: Brazil
- December: Brazil
Harvest:
- March: harvest still underway in Hex River Valley, South Africa
- March – May: availability from Mildura region of Australia
- January to April: South Africa
- February to June: Chile
- July: late stored fruit from Chile
- Late July: from Egypt
- August to November: from California, Spain, Italy, Greece
- Mid November to mid December: from Brazil
Websites:
- Sunworld – Crimson Seedless
- HortScience – 30(7):1473–1474. 1995 Crimson Seedless, A New Late-Maturing, Red Seedless Grape – Ramming, Tarailo & Badr
John Bahdurr –
I dont like these ones. Theyre the most popular in my local supermarkets here in the UK.
Nick Ball –
Hi John,
Crimson are quite an old variety which has been overtaken by many new alternatives. However, it is still grown in vast amounts and can store well, so becomes the fall-back position for retailers, particularly when sourcing gets tough towards the end of a season. There are good examples of Crimson, though!
Regards,
Nick Ball
Sanjay pawar –
It is best varity in coloured & best in keeping quality.
Nick Ball –
Crimson is a tried and tested variety that has been popular for many years, and is still a major factor for many producers. There are quite a few new red varieties on the ascendancy, though, so I expect Crimson to gradually diminish in importance.