Dan Evans/News-Sentinel
Lodi’s forgotten fruit: Flame Tokays
Victor Goehring searches for a fresh bunch of Flame Tokay grapes in his small vineyard on East Victor Road.
Dan Evans/News-Sentinel
Lodi’s forgotten fruit: Flame Tokays
A bunch of Flame Tokay grapes ripens in a small vineyard on East Victor Road. Between the 1930s and 1980s the Flame Tokay grape was popular, but since the emergence of seedless grapes, demand for Flame Tokays diminished.
- Quotes about the Flame Tokay grape
-
“I snuck into (George Cecchetti’s) field to grab some the other
day while I was out there. They are my favorite type of table
grape.”
— Bob Lauchland, JR Lauchland & Sons.
“A lady from Boston came out here and she wanted these grapes,
but it’s not feasible to ship them back.”
— Karen Chandler, Cecchetti Olive Oil Inc.
“I’ve been with the commission since 1987, and I’d go to
industry events on the East Coast and have people ask me: ‘Where
are the Tokays?’”
— Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape
Commission
- Flame Tokay grape at a glance
-
- A large to very large berry; white to pinkish-red in color,
depending on climatic conditions; seeded; ripen in late
August.
- The Tokay variety requires warm summer days followed by cool
nights to develop good color on the clusters. The variety is
well-suited to areas around Lodi and Sacramento, but does not
develop quality fruit in warmer areas.
— Source: California Table Grape Commission
Posted: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 12:00 am
|
Updated: 5:58 am, Thu Oct 14, 2010.
Lodi’s forgotten fruit: Flame Tokays
By Jordan Guinn
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Lodinews.com
|
The reddish-yellow orbs were once a cash crop for Lodi, but now
are nearly forgotten. The Flame Tokay grape is a seeded table grape
that features a crisp skin and full, fruity flavor. It was widely
popular in vineyards around town in the early 1900s, but as
consumers’ tastes for seedless grapes grew, the Flame Tokay’s
demand basically fell off a cliff. The crop is so obscure now that
San Joaquin County’s Agricultural Commissioner’s office doesn’t
even track how many acres of the crop are grown.
“There are a few (Flame) Tokays around town, but we have next to
no information about them,” said Gary Stockel, assistant
agricultural commissioner for the county.
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Posted in
News
on
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 12:00 am.
Updated: 5:58 am.
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David R. Schindler posted at 9:18 am on Wed, Oct 13, 2010.
When I was at San Joaquin County Historical Museum at Micke Grove with my daughter a few years back I thought I remember them growing some Tokay grape vines. Maybe you could call them and get a cutting or two if they still have them...
Craig Cawelti posted at 6:51 am on Wed, Oct 13, 2010.
While visiting Dave and Helen Dart's winery a couple of weeks ago, I was delighted to find a large bunch of Tokays for tasting. I have loved them for years. I do miss them also and would like to obtain a cutting for my back yard. There is nothing like sitting on the porch during a warm Indian Summer October evening, spitting seeds while you eat a chilled bunch of Tokays.
Darrell Baumbach posted at 6:18 am on Wed, Oct 13, 2010.
If someone would be so kind, does someone know someone that has a few tokays so I could get a few cuttings, I would appreciaite it. I grew up with 20 acres of tokays but have not seen them for years. I would love to plan a vine or two as I enjoyed that grape.