California grapes

US fresh produce group Pandol Bros. Inc has said that it is to reach out to consumers this summer with a new campaign championing the presence of the so-called 'super-antioxidant' resveratrol in table grapes.

By sharing the results of published medical studies that point to the potential health impact of resveratrol, and collaborating with retail partners, dieticians and food editors, Pandol is hoping to drive the message home to consumers and the industry as a whole.

'Although it’s been established that grapes contain a nutritional payload, this includes a unique phytonutrient antioxidant resveratrol and we believe the emerging research about its potential beneficial effects will be helpful to consumers and also support retailers,' says Tristan Kieva, the company’s director of marketing and business development. 'Resveratrol has been shown to be a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent and has the potential to positively impact a variety of health issues.'

Grapes are second only to pomegranates in terms of the antioxidants they offer, Pandol said, and Kieva cited studies indicating consumers regularly read ingredient labels for nutritional information as an example of the opportunity presented by pushing the presence of resveratrol in grapes.

'While grapes continue to be a highly popular and convenient snack item, as consumers learn more about resveratrol, we see its potential to create more demand across the category,' Kieva said.