Another week, another shortage. This time, I shudder to tell you it’s Grape-Nuts. Fans of the breakfast cereal are not happy. They want to know why Grape-Nuts are no longer available. They also want to know why it’s hyphenated.
The New York Times reports that “supply chain constraints and higher demand for the cereal amid the pandemic have led to shortages.”
Post, the company that makes Grape-Nuts, issued a statement: “Grape-Nuts is made using a proprietary technology and a production process that isn’t easily replicated, which has made it more difficult to shift production to meet demand during this time.”
I’m glad they don’t make vaccine.
The company promises to get Grape-Nuts back on the shelves by spring.
I’ve never been much of a fan of Grape-Nuts. To be clear, it does not contain grapes or nuts. (They’re made out of wheat and barley.) I’ve never found them to have much taste. And they are very crunchy, which makes for a little too much noise first thing in the morning.
The cereal has been around since 1897. C.W. Post, the man who invented Grape-Nuts, reportedly gave it its name. He went with Grape-Nuts because Corn Flakes was already taken.
The cereal is famous for being a favorite of Sir Edmund Hillary, who was the first to climb Mount Everest in 1953. But once at the top, he discovered the milk was frozen.
I am old enough to remember commercials for Grape-Nuts with Euell Gibbons. The previously unknown outdoorsman and health food advocate was seen wandering through the woods talking up the benefits of Grape-Nuts.
The taste, he said, “reminds me of wild hickory nuts.”
This left a lot of TV viewers scratching their heads in the 1970s. First, we knew nothing of healthy eating. We loved Pop Tarts and Swanson frozen dinners.
But Mr. Gibbons became famous for his commercial and Americans responded, as only Americans can — he was mocked and widely ridiculed.
It was easy to find Grape-Nuts on the shelves in 1974, but not so today.
Oh, you can score a box of Grape-Nuts for $60 to $110 from the usual black marketeers on Amazon and eBay.
Until Post can replenish the stock, perhaps you could get by on real grapes and real nuts.
Or just have some toast.
February 03, 2021 at 12:00PM
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In search of Grape-Nuts | Columns | wvnews.com - WV News
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