Raisin History
1851 - Walk like an Egyptian (Raisin)
The missionaries helped farmers grow grapes profitably for wine. But it wasn't until 1851 that a marketable muscat grape for raisins, the Egyptian Muscat, was grown near San Diego. San Diego did not have a sufficient water supply, so farmers began to look elsewhere for better growing conditions. They found a perfect spot in the San Joaquin Valley in Fresno, California - one of the most fertile valleys in the world!
1872 - The Highlands merge with the San Joaquin Valley
Scottish immigrant to California, William Thompson imports a Sultanina seedless grape cutting from the Almira & Barry Nursery of Rochester, New York. He was rewarded when the Sultanina was the only vine to survive sudden winter floods.
1873 - Mother nature works her magic
Commercial propagation of William Thompson's seedless grapes begins in California. In Fresno County a number of bunches dry by accident, creating the first commercial raisin crop. It is transported to San Francisco and sold as a 'Peruvian delicacy.'
1875 - 1st Prize goes to Thompson Seedless!
Thompson enters his Sultanina grapes into a local agricultural competition. Not knowing their formal name, he dubs them 'Thompson seedless.' The moniker sticks, and Thompson seedless grapes become the basis of California's grape and raisin industry. Thin-skinned, without seeds and loaded with flavour, they make the best raisins. Today 95% of California Raisins are made from Thompson seedless grapes grown in the San Joaquin Valley.
1881 - Move over and let the experts in
The first Armenians arrive in Fresno County, bringing with them long-held expertise in raisin production.