But in 1849, one vine began yielding grapes with the rich flavor and appearance he had been seeking. Year after year, he planted seeds from this promising new vine.

Finally in 1853, Bull's Concord grape was officially recognized by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. He had named the grape after the town of Concord, Mass., where he conducted his experiments.

Today Welch's is headquartered in Concord, not far from where the very first Concord grape originated. Bull's farmhouse is still standing, and in the garden beside it stands the original parent vine of every Concord grape ever grown.

Bull's amazing grape was an immediate success and within a few years Concords were being grown from Massachusetts to the Mississippi River.

The Concord grape continued to grow in popularity, and soon this "table grape" was dubbed "the grape for the millions" by famed journalist and statesman Horace Greeley.

Today, more than 450,000 tons of Concord grapes are grown in four major areas of the United States and Canada.

This amazing fruit continues to be the cornerstone of Welch's products, although today the company produces a number of products using other fruits.

For information about the health benefits of Concord grape juice please visit The Concord Grape Association web site.