Between 120 and 900 BC, the Phoenicians planted vineyards in Spain and Greece, while Armenians did so in what is now Turkey, Iran, and Iraq. The seedless grape variety was later named after William Thompson, who first cultivated these grapes in California around the beginning of the twentieth century.
The cultivation of the grape spread across Asia Minor, the Mediterranean, and northern Africa, reaching Europe and subsequently finding its way to America, South Africa, and Australia. Spaniards introduced it to Mexico and regions now part of California and Arizona. English settlers brought the Old-World grape to the colonies along the Atlantic seaboard.
In 1872, William Thompson of Yuba City introduced the seedless grape to California, obtaining cuttings from the Elwanger and Barry nursery in Rochester, New York. Initially labeled as a grape from Constantinople grown in English hothouses under the name 'Lady De Coverly,' local planters quickly embraced the misnomer 'Thompson Seedless,' a name that persisted throughout its use in California. The variety is also recognized as 'Sultanina,' originating from 'Sultanieh.'
By the 1840s, the emergence of railways facilitated the shipment of grapes from southern to northern states, extending the availability of grapes in the summer. By the 1880s, California had become a significant source of table grapes for eastern markets.
Before the introduction of Thompson Seedless grapes in 1876, the grape industry faced challenges due to the tedious process of seeding common muscat raisins. The introduction of seedless grapes contributed to the flourishing of the industry.
Seedless Grape Origins
