<p>Cotton Candy Grapes are growing in popularity among both consumers and retailers. The variety has recently graced the spotlight on shows like On the Air with Ryan Seacrest and in publications that include The LA Times. <a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jul/31/business/la-fi-cotton-candy-grape-20130801" target="_new"> LA Times</a> The recent recognition has also spurred a growing concern from shoppers that the grapes are genetically modified, which they are NOT. Comments directed towards retailers on social media outlets and through company websites inquiring about the nature of the grape are prompting retailers to reassure their loyal following. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>I went to Grapery CEO, Jim Beagle, for the truth on the matter, "We have begun shipping significant volumes of our Cotton Candy Grapes to retailers and are receiving rave reviews and consumer response. But, there is also a fair percentage of consumers who are inquiring about the whether or not the grape is GMO engineered." </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Beagle, continues, "Our grapes are all-natural and we find that the best way to address the issue is to give them all the facts and so we direct them to our breeding partner International Fruit Genetics' website for the true traits of the Cotton Candy Grapes."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The new Cotton Candy Grapes, in their second year of commercial production, taste like cotton candy and retailers like Martin's Super Markets have had to respond to customers concerns over the creation of the grape.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Last week, Martin's posted on its Facebook page, "Cotton Candy® grapes taste exactly like the pink spun-sugar treat you loved as a kid at the circus—and we mean exactly. Pop some in your mouth, close your eyes, and you're a kid again!" This prompted responses from consumers warning other shoppers about the GMO nature of the Cotton Candy Grapes.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Martin's began reassuring consumers of the variety's all-natural production by linking the recent LA Times article to the consumer comments. The publication recently ran a profile piece on the developed patented variety and the cross-breeding techniques used to create the grapes, which are not to be confused with GMO engineering.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Fruits and vegetables have fierce competitors in their candy, processed food, and junk food rivals which has motivated many growers and breeders to develop more distinct flavor profiles and unique eating experiences. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://ryanseacrest.com/2013/08/09/ryan-and-ellen-try-cotton-candy-flavored-grapes-are-they-good" target="_new"> On Air with Ryan Seacrest</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.grapery.biz/index.php/grapes" target="_new"> Grapery </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.internationalfruitgenetics.com" target="_new">International Fruit Genetics </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
