Grapes don’t really need seeds as far as both as growers and consumers are concerned. Grape vines are propagated by grafting or cuttings, because growing them from seed is an unreliable way to reproduce a variety. And seeds are inconvenient when you want to market grapes as an out-of-hand snack to on-the-go consumers.
Seedless grapes actually do contain seeds, it’s just that the seeds remain small and don’t develop a hard outer coat that would make them noticeable in our mouths. In North America, you now almost have to go out of your way to buy a grape that still has noticeable seeds in it.
Seedless grapes are not only good for consumers who don’t like picking seeds out of their mouths, they are also a boon for the raisin industry, as it makes raisin production a great deal easier.
History Notes
Probably the first, and certainly the first most famous, seedless grape is the Thompson Seedless.