County fair is going to be grape

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- They are red, they are green, they can be shriveled and

dried, squished for juice or squashed for jam. This year, grapes can

add another tidbit to their resume as the theme of this summer’s

Orange County Fair.

Fair officials announced the annual event’s theme, “The Year of

the Grape; Jammin’ at the Fair.” As in years past, the theme will

color all aspects of the fair, from decorations to contests, said

fair general manager Becky Bailey-Findley.

“It is a process that is a lot of fun, not only for us, but also

for our vendors, who usually decorate their booths to our themes, or

offer related products,” Bailey-Findley said.

The fair, hosted by the 32nd agricultural district headquartered

off Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, always picks a popular California

commodity to highlight in its theme, officials said. Exactly what

role the sphere-shaped snack will take in the various contests has

yet to be released but fair staffers are hard at work to solidify the

festivities.

Bailey-Findley said they change the themes annually to keep the

fair -- and its employees -- from getting stale.

“Helps fair staff keep the planning and presentation fresh --

doing something different every year,” Bailey-Findley said. “It is

important to the staff that we are having fun at the same time and

that helps to create the energy and excitement for the fair every

year.”

It may be too early to release specifics but it is never too early

to let folks know that that this summer’s fair will be jammin’ --

from the adrenaline-pumping rides to the melodic tunes, officials

said.

Grapes, either to eat or in wine, are enjoyed by 98% of Americans,

said Jim Howard, the vice president of communications for the

California Table Grape Commission, headquartered in Fresno.

“They certainly have picked a popular theme,” Howard said. “I

think it is great, especially given that the majority of fresh grapes

come right here from California.”

Howard focuses specifically on tables grapes -- the arguable star

of the quintessential bowl of fruit -- but said the promotion of any

byproducts of the fruit is great news. In fact, the first grape vine

ever planted in the Golden State was in the Los Angeles area, Howard

said, so it makes sense for Southern Californians to embrace the

fruit.

“It makes a lot of sense that Southern California should celebrate

fresh grapes and grapes in all their forms,” he said.

The juicy fruit will also make a healthy snack alternative to the

popular fair food must haves, such as deep fried Twinkies, Snickers

bars and funnel cakes.

Any fried grapes this year?

“You never know,” Bailey-Findley said. “We did have

chocolate-covered grapes last year. We’ll see if they come back.”