The following blog post you are about to read will clear up any confusion you have about when to find Cotton Candy grapes.
When Cotton Candy grapes first hit stores the season only ran from mid August into September.
However things have changed a lot since then. At that point the grapes were only being grown by Grapery in Bakersfield, California - who I believe still grows the best Cotton Candy grapes.
While Grapery has the exclusive license to grow them in the U.S., Cotton Candy grapes are being grown in other countries. Because of that the season has extended.
It also has caused quite a bit of confusion. People are thinking the season is over at different times of year, partly fueled by incorrect information from produce department employees.
This post is going to set the record straight on when you can expect to see Cotton Candy grapes in stores and where they are coming from. When you finish reading this post you will be able to answer to anyone these 5 questions.
- Why aren't Cotton Candy Grapes Available Year Round?
- Where are Cotton Candy Grapes Grown?
- When is the California Season?
- When can you find Organic Cotton Candy Grapes?
- How to Know Which Ones to Buy?
Jump to:
❓ Are They Available Year Round?
Are you wondering if Cotton Candy are always in season? No, Cotton Candy grapes are not available year round, but getting awfully close.
I know. I know. Not what you wanted to hear. That is why it's more important to know when they are available so you don't miss your chance.
Right now they are "3 seasons". In each season Cotton Candy grapes are coming from a different part of the worlds.
Here is a list of when they are available.
| Time of Year | Origin |
| August-early October | California (Grapery), Spain |
| November-March | South America (Peru, Brazil, Chile) |
| April-June | Mexico |
📅 Why Not Available Year Round?
I think the confusion with grapes has been that they are often only labeled as being red, green, and black. That is what we are use to. And we see those names year round.
However the exact variety of red, green, or black grape isn't the same throughout the entire season. Different varieties of those colors appear in the bags. Good news is that more growers are starting to put the variety name on the bag. The most grocery stores aren't advertising that fact, so you have to look at the bag and see if it has a variety name on it.
Cotton Candy grapes have a limited window to when they are harvested and how long they can be stored post harvest. You get them from one region, one time a year, for a couple months.
With Cotton Candy grapes being imported that extends the time of the year they are available here in the United States. Without imports, we would only have them in the late summer from California.
🍇 Grapes from California
As I said at the top of the post, the best Cotton Candy grapes in my opinion are grown by Grapery near Bakersfield, California. They begin hitting the stores around mid August with peak volumes in early September.
It's not just because they are grown the closest to me, making them the freshest Cotton Candy grapes of the season. The reason why I think they are the best is that I believe Grapery puts in every extra effort to go for flavor. They want their grapes to be the best, every single time.
Grapery only picks them as their peak of flavor, not a moment earlier. And you can tell. Every other grower that I have had Cotton Candy grapes from I didn't find that same consistency.
🎧 Check out our podcast for my interview with Grapery CEO Jim Beagle and learn What to Expect from Grapery. Learn about how all the varieties look for the season as well as what the future holds. It's exciting stuff.
🇲🇽 Grapes from Mexico
Before the Cotton Candy grapes are in stores from California, there is a Mexican crop. This season has been the most confusing. When the Mexican season ends a lot of misinformed retailer workers have been telling customers they are done til next year. Totally not true.
Mexican Cotton Candy grapes arrive in April with May to mid June being the peak of the supply. You can find them all over the place including Costco.
There are a couple growers they do have USDA Certified Organic Cotton Candy grapes. This is the only time of year to find that certification on Cotton Candy grapes.
I have no qualms with eating the California grown ones that aren't certified organic as I trust in Grapery's farming practices, they just aren't certified organic.
RELATED - How Did They Get Grapes to Taste Like Cotton Candy?
❄️ Grapes in the Winter
Most recently Cotton Candy grapes have become available in the winter months. Typically around mid to late December, I see some Cotton Candy grapes in stores from places like Brazil as well as Peru and sometimes Chile.
Most of the Cotton Candy grapes I have seen in the winter have been from Peru.
I find with this "season" that the quality greatly varies the most. You got several different growers, shipping grapes from far away. I would definitely recommend tasting them before you buy them so you don't go home disappointed.
The latest I have seen them from South America is March. Also note that between December and March, Cotton Candy grapes are not consistently in stores. I see them in waves.
Help us track Cotton Candy grapes. Leave a comment below, telling us where you got them and what country they came from.
❔ How to Know Which Ones to Buy?
Since so many different growers are producing Cotton Candy grapes nowadays, how do you know which ones are going to be good and which ones will disappoint. The quality definitely varies.
I always trust Grapery. Their Cotton Candy grapes have never let me down. So I don't hesitate with theirs. Now they are working with other growers around the world to bring more Cotton Candy grapes to customers during different times of the year. It's a learning process so if you find Grapery Cotton Candy grapes make sure to look at where they are grown.
The grapes may not be as good yet as the California ones, but they are working with these farms from around the world to get consistent results.
When considering whether to buy Cotton Candy grapes from other growers, what I look for is the color of the grapes.
I found two different packages of Cotton Candy grapes at an ALDI store. I bought both of them to taste. The one on the left, the grapes have a more tan green color where the grapes on the right look more like what you would expect from a green grape.
The tan colored ones tasted like Cotton Candy. The greener ones just tasted sweet without that flavor.
👨🏽⚖️ Verdict - Choose Cotton Candy Grapes that are more tan in color.
ℹ️nfographic
To help you remember all this information, we can created an handy infographic that you can save to your phone and refer to when you are wondering about your favorite grapes.
👅 Try These Grapes
If you are a fan of Cotton Candy grapes, you need to try the Gum Drops Grapes from Grapery. Also these ones as well:
🍓 When Other Fruits are in Season
I hope you found this post useful. I love sharing information to help you know when your favorite fruits are in season. Our most popular post is on when fresh cherries are in season. Learn about when all of these fruits are in season as well:
Michael Dryja
I’ve purchased Cotton Candy grapes a few times this winter from Metropolitan Market in Seattle. Sourced from Peru. Flavor wise, pretty close to the Grapery sourced versions available in the summer. They do have a weird chalky coating [pesticides?j that I have to thoroughly rinse off.
But the star of the winter has been Chilean Muscat grapes. Met Market has had much better ones than Whole Foods here. Presentation is excellent, too — they set up wood crates, and layered all the bunches in a pile. Really looks spectacular. You grab a paper bag, and take as many bunches as you want to buy.
Patsy Arizpe
I purchased cotton candy grapes at Harris teeter 3/26/2019 in eastern nc but not near bag to check where from. I'm on the hunt for muscats
Kandis Olson
I just found some (from Chile) at Smith’s (kroeger) in Montana. They lasted exactly 2 days and then they were wiped out ?
Eric Samuelson
Glad you found them. The supply usually isn't very consistent.
Rachael
FYI: The white "stuff" on the outside of the grape, red or green, is called sugar bloom. It is naturally produced by the fruit it help with moisture loss. Safe to eat or rinse off.
Eric Samuelson
Hi Rachel. Thanks for sharing. I am aware of that. In fact, when I see that it's usually a sign that the fresh is fresher or hasn't been handled too much.
Roxanne soobotin
Do you know where I can get some seeds so I can't plant some ?
Eric Samuelson
Unfortunately you can't. You have to be license to grow Cotton Candy grapes. Seeds or plants are not sold to the general public.
Ruth Whitaker
I’m waiting for the graperies cotton candy grapes. I bought from other countries, and to me the ones from the Grapery, have the same great cotton candy flavor with every grape. The others, to me, were not the same. The first one or two you taste the cotton candy flavor, and from then on it’s just green grapes. Also other countries use pesticides we don’t use. I trust the Grapery. They are the best. I’ll be ready for them in late summer, and they will be even more special.
Renee R Wells
I bought some at Sam's club Kansas City Missouri last year
Eric Samuelson
Thanks for sharing. I have seen them at Sam's Club too.
Diane Hughes
I just bought them at Walmart in Virginia Beach va
Matthew Martell
Feb 15th, 2021, Charlotte, NC; cotton candy seedless grapes from Peru. From TerraSur. Website on the bag says www pedestals com
Karen McClellan
I purchased cotton candy table grapes at my local discount grocery store April 3, 2023.I live in Northern California, (Lake County) & these grapes say they are from Chile. They are so good & I'm going to put some in a fruit ambrosia.
Eric Samuelson
I am glad you enjoyed them. I hope you get to try some when the California season arrives in August.
Judy Thompson
Omg I love cotton candy grapes I’m from Wisconsin and found them in one of our regular stores keep them coming reminds of the fairs I used to go to when I was young firithen I got was cotton candy. These are so GOOD thank you
Eric Samuelson
Glad to hear that you like them. Which grocery store are you referring to? When I am in Wisconsin I love shopping at Woodmans.