Grape Ingredients
Our customers use grapes because of their natural sweetness, versatility, and strong consumer appeal across a wide range of products. Grapes are commonly processed into grape NFC juice, grape juice concentrate, raisins (dried grapes), and extracts, making them useful in beverages, snacks, baked goods, and confectionery.
Their high natural sugar content allows manufacturers to enhance flavor while reducing the need for added sugars. Grapes are also rich in antioxidants, such as resveratrol, which supports heart health and wellness-related marketing claims. Additionally, their mild, familiar flavor blends easily with other ingredients, and their availability in shelf-stable forms makes them ideal for large-scale production and consistent product formulation.
Available Formats: Grape NFC Juice, Juice Concentrate, Puree, Puree Concentrate, Essence, IQF
Available From: Our fruit ingredients are always sourced from the earth's prime growing regions. Contact us to learn more.
Harvest Seasons: Grapes grow in the Northern hemisphere from September to November.
Grape Varieties: We supply Concord, White, Deionized and many other grape varieties.
Other: Our grape ingredients can be provided as USDA Organic upon request. Contact us to learn more.
Botanical
Vitis Vinifera
Grapes are small, round fruits that grow in clusters on woody vines belonging to the genus Vitis. They are believed to have originated in the Near East and have been cultivated for thousands of years. Grapes come in a variety of colors, including green, red, purple, and black, and can have either seeds or be seedless.
They have a smooth skin, juicy interior, and vary in flavor from sweet to slightly tart. Grapes grow best in temperate climates and are typically harvested in late summer to early fall. They are one of the oldest domesticated fruits and have played an important role in agriculture and history worldwide.
The cultivation of the grape (Vitis vinifera) is deeply intertwined with the dawn of human civilization, boasting an agricultural history that stretches back over 8,000 years. Archaeological evidence places the earliest domestication of wild grapes in the South Caucasus region, encompassing modern-day Georgia, Armenia, and Iran.
Our Customers
Grape Ingredient Production Applications
As an Ingredient Division of Brothers International, we are proud to serve an incredibly diverse customer base. From emerging brands to the largest Fortune 500 CPG companies, we are committed to ensuring that every customer is supported with care, discretion, and the highest level of confidentiality. Our mission is to be a true supply chain partner - one you can rely on every step of the way for grape NFC juice and other grape ingredients.
Grape NFC Juice, Juice Concentrate
Modern Food Production
In the modern food and beverage production landscape, grapes are processed into diverse formats that capitalize on their high natural sugars, vibrant colors, and unique acid profiles. Grape NFC juice (not-from-concentrate) represents the premium liquid tier. Pressed directly from fresh grapes—most notably varieties like Concord for deep purple profiles or Thompson Seedless for white juices—and gently pasteurized, grape NFC juice preserves the delicate, volatile flavor notes and native antioxidant polyphenols of the fresh harvest. Because it undergoes no thermal concentration, it is the primary choice for premium, clean-label juice blends, artisanal non-alcoholic wine alternatives, and high-end RTD mocktails seeking a sophisticated, authentic flavor profile.
For commercial efficiency and production, Grape Juice Concentrate serves as a powerhouse ingredient. Evaporated under a low-temperature vacuum to a standard 68° to 70° Brix, this format strips out water weight to drastically optimize global shipping and storage costs. White grape juice concentrate is highly valued as a completely neutral, clear, and uncolored natural sweetener, allowing it to replace high-fructose corn syrup in fruit candies, fruit snacks, and juices while preserving a clean "100% fruit juice" label. Conversely, red and purple grape concentrates are extensively utilized as clean-label, plant-based coloring agents, providing a stable, vibrant hue to confectionery items, sports drinks, and gelatin desserts.
When a formulation requires a richer texture and the inclusion of fruit solids, grape puree and puree concentrate become indispensable. Grape puree is produced by crushing and finely de-seeding the fruit, creating a smooth, opaque paste that retains the natural skin nutrients and complex mouthfeel. It is heavily utilized as a texturizing base for fruit smoothies, baby foods, and dairy fruit preparations. For applications where moisture must be tightly regulated, grape puree concentrate provides the same rich pomace and dietary fibers in a dense, low-water format. This makes it an excellent clean-label binder, natural humectant, and flavor core for nutritional snack bars, premium baking fillings, and artisanal fruit leathers.
To capture the aromatic identity of the vine, grape essence is recovered as a highly specialized liquid co-product during the juice evaporation process. The highly volatile aromatic compounds are captured at the start of heating, condensed, and fractionated into a crystal-clear liquid. Free from sugars or colors, grape essence is heavily utilized by beverage scientists to inject an authentic, fresh-picked fragrance into clear sparkling waters, hard seltzers, and functional teas without altering the beverage's clarity or color.
When visual identity, physical structural integrity, and a whole-fruit profile are required, Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) grapes are the premium choice. Flash-frozen at ultra-low temperatures, individual seedless grapes retain their round shape, vibrant color, and cellular structure, preventing them from turning into a soft mass upon thawing. IQF grapes are highly sought after as premium inclusions for ready-to-blend smoothie pouches, breakfast fruit pots, frozen dessert toppings, and prepared culinary applications like gourmet salads or ready-to-eat cheese and fruit platters.
The Brothers International
Quality Promise
Brothers International and its 4 divisions, Brothers Ingredients, Dennick Fruit Source, Hosh International and Food Partners, are trusted global importers of premium ingredients to major food and beverage manufacturers in North America. We deliver consistent quality and supply across every format the industry demands. Our grapes are sourced from the earth’s prime growing regions where farming expertise, climate and soil composition come together to produce grapes of exceptional caliber. All of our suppliers undergo a rigorous vetting process to ensure we work with only the highest-quality processors and can fully guarantee traceability, sustainability, and compliance with all international regulations.
Each of our divisions has a specialized operations team to manage shipments and coordinate with customers and suppliers. They work closely with our in-house customs team to ensure efficient clearance, and collaborate with the USDA and FDA to maintain full regulatory compliance. This ensures your ingredients move seamlessly through every stage of import, arriving on time and ready for production with complete confidence. With decades of sourcing expertise and a strong commitment to customer success, you can count on Brothers International to deliver the premium ingredients your products require.
Industry Glossery
A Reference Guide for Fruit Ingredient Terminology
Check out our glossary for a consolidated reference of commonly used terminology across the global fruit ingredient industry. It provides straightforward definitions and context for the language and concepts referenced throughout the industry.
