Thompson Seedless Grape

The grape behind most supermarket green seedless grapes and a huge share of the world's raisins. It was introduced to California in the 1870s by William Thompson, a grower near Yuba City, who received cuttings from a New York nursery under the name "Lady de Coverly." Local growers began calling it "Thompson's Seedless" after him, and the name stuck even though Thompson didn't breed the variety himself — it likely originated in the region spanning modern Iran and Turkey, where it was historically known as Sultanina. It remains a reliable choice in warm climates and is the dominant grape behind the American raisin industry.