Have a great day with Australian grapes!

It's harvest season for grapes from the Southern Hemisphere which means the Taste Australia campaign is back to entice customers to try and buy beautiful, sweet and crunchy Aussie grapes.

Thanks to the diverse geology and unique micro-climates across Australia, grapes are able to enjoy a long production window from November to May. Rich soils, warm summer days, cool nights, and long daylight hours create grapes with intensified sweetness and an eye-catching red, black or green colour. A top tip when selecting green grapes is to choose a bunch with a golden tint as this means they are sweeter in flavour.

Did you know Australian table grapes can be eaten straight from the bunch? There’s no need to peel or de-seed, just simply rinse before eating and enjoy the taste of an Australian summer. This means grapes are the perfect addition to kids lunchboxes or a go-to snack at work to re-energise and hydrate active bodies, which is especially helpful when you live a busy lifestyle.

Grapes are a natural superfood and adding a serving to your daily diet will give you a much needed antioxidant boost. Grapes are packed full of phytonutrients including polyphenols, anthocyanin, and resveratrol, which contribute to the protection to eye health and heart disease. Aussie grapes are particularly good for parents and grandparents as they are low GI food which helps stabilise blood glucose levels after a meal. As grapes contain 80 percent water and plenty of fibre they also contribute to body hydration and help keep your gut healthy.

Australian grapes are incredibly versatile. They are the perfect anytime snack or addition to a sweet or savoury recipe for a refreshing twist.

Here are some Aussie grape quick and fun ideas:
-- Cut grapes in half, freeze, and use instead of ice as a natural way to chill and sweeten drinks
-- Match fresh grapes with specialty cheese, especially soft cheeses such as brie or camembert to create an impressive and well balanced platter for family and friends
-- Dip grapes in melted dark chocolate for a satisfying sweet treat
-- Must try recipes can be found at http://www.australiangrapes.com.au/category/recipes/

Did you know that:
-- Grapes were first introduced to Australia 230 years ago
-- Australia produces an average of 120,000 tonnes which is the same weight as 2,400 cargo planes
-- Australian grapes are available each year from November to May
-- More than 60% of Australian grapes are exported to 35 countries with most destined for Asia
-- Australian grapes are hand picked to ensure quality and avoid bruising
-- Grapes do not become sweeter once picked, only perfectly vine-ripened grapes will be hand harvested for your enjoyment
Thompson Seedless (green), Crimson Seedless (red), Red Globe (red) and Midnight Beauty (black) are the most common grape varieties from Australia.

Grapes are great for our body! They are packed with polyphenols and anthocyanin, which belong to the family of powerful phytonutrients. Phytonutrients have been proven in recent scientific research to promote human health by enhancing antioxidants and protecting cells from free radical damage. These benefits are found in the skins and flesh of green, red and black grapes.

Grapes are made from approximately 80% water and contain a high amount of fibre which means they hydrate, cleanse and detoxify active bodies. They also contain resveratrol which converts bad, white fat in the body into good ‘beige fat’, which helps to burn calories and prevent weight gain.

Grapes are recognised as as low GI food and have numerous health and nutritional benefits per 100g serve:
3.9g dietary fibre, which helps lower cholesterol and keeps you fuller for longer
37 mg calcium, which is needed for bone health
A good source of Vitamin C (10% of recommended daily intake) which helps maintain immune and brain function, keeps skin healthy, and increases iron absorption
Fat-free, saturated fat-free, cholesterol-free, and naturally low in sodium and
2.8% of the average person’s daily kilojoule needs.

When buying grapes, reach for firm, plump clusters that are securely attached to green stems. Look for a silvery coating on grapes. This is the natural bloom (not dust) that protects the fruit and is an indicator of freshness. Store grapes in an airtight container in the crisper draw of your refrigerator for up to two weeks
Rinse grapes before eating and serve slightly chilled to enhance grapes natural crispness.

Top tip: Australian grapes have a thin and crisp skin so there is no need to peel the fruit.

To taste the difference, head down to participating supermarkets including Rustan’s, Shopwise, Wellcome, S&R, Robinson’s and other major supermarkets and enjoy seasonal red, black or green grape sensations. They guarantee these much-loved Australian fruits will be perfectly fresh and sweet.

Let's join the “It’s A Grape Day” social media contest by posting your most creative photo featuring table grapes accompanied by the wittiest of captions.

• To join, one must simply LIKE and FOLLOW Taste Australia Philippines’ Facebook and Instagram.
• Simply post your creative entries and TAG US by using the following hashtags: #ItsAGrapeDay #TasteAustralia #AustralianTableGrapes #FunWithGrapes.
• Posts must be set to public in order for us to track your entries.
• All concepts are welcome.

Winners will be chosen randomly, so get your creative juices flowing as 2 winners will be chosen per week (1 for IG and 1 for FB) and will win PHP 2,500 worth of Rustan’s Gift Certificates each.