Raisins are actually dried grapes. The process of drying
grapes into raisins has roots going back to the ancient
Egyptians. They were once a valuable trade item by which
the process began to spread. In the late 19th century grape
growers were struck with a heat wave in the San Joaquin
Valley which dried their grapes on the vine. From then on
raisins became a booming local industry. Today 95% of all
grapes grown in the United States come from within 50 miles
of Fresno.
