As one of the few people at my place of work with small children, I'm usually at the forefront of bizarre chid-related trends, especially odd child-targeted food items. Today, I was scooped by a childless co-worker who told me of the existence of the Grapple®, a thing of which I had until now been blissfully unaware. Apparently her well-meaning but ultimately misguided husband brought home a box last night, and both pronounced them inedible. What is a Grapple®, you ask (assuming you don't already know)? Apparently it's pronounced not "grapple" as in "grappling hook," but "gray-ple," as in unholy amalgam of grape and apple. Yes, it's an unassuming Washington Fuji apple injected, infused, and otherwise tainted with 100% natural Concord grape flavor. The company that produces these things has a website: www.grapplefruits.com.

So my question is: Why? Why would an apple that tastes like a grape be any more palatable?  Personally, I can think of many other kinds of fruit that would benefit by tasting like another fruit. How about tomatoes that taste like bananas? Or plums that taste like kiwi fruit? The possibilities are endless. How about apples that taste like cheese? Now that's promising.

The Grapple® website says: "With childhood obesity increasing at alarming rates, Grapple® brand apples could go a long way to improving the eating habits of children and introducing them to more produce." Huh? Why not just offer your kids apples and grapes? I suppose they could, but is flavoring one fruit like another really going to accomplish much?

Now in all fairness, I haven't actually tasted a Grapple® for myself yet. Perhaps the flavor of one is akin to angels dancing on your tastebuds... you never know.