Police Respond To Report Of Shooting. The Grape Report.

Police Respond To Meijer Shooting Report

Westerville Police responded to a report of a possible shooting Sunday at the Meijer store on Polaris Parkway. No injuries were reported, and there was no confirmation that a weapon had been fired.

Radio traffic from the scene indicated that three men began arguing near the store’s entrance. One shopper said the argument grew so loud that he became concerned and began moving away. Moments later, a store-wide announcement instructed all customers to leave immediately through the rear entrance. The shopper said he abandoned his nearly full cart and exited the building.

As described on police radio traffic, witnesses said one of the men walked away from the group, went to his car, opened the rear door, and began walking back toward the store with his hand in his pocket. His posture appeared to suggest he might have had a gun.

When officers arrived, all three men had already left. Witnesses told police the vehicle the lone man entered was seen heading north on 3C Highway into Genoa Township. Police later broadcast the vehicle’s license plate number.

Later radio traffic indicated that one witness said they saw the suspect pull a weapon from the back seat of the car.

Shoppers were allowed to return to the store shortly after. A walk through the entrance revealed about half a dozen abandoned shopping carts still lined up near the front.

The Westerville News has requested a copy of the police incident report, which is expected to be available Monday.

The Green Grape Report

Food Review by Gary Gardiner

Market District - North State Street

Brand – Autumn Crisp
Price – $1.75 a pound.
PLU Code – NA

The Review

This week’s grapes may be the best I’ve eaten in months. These Autumn Crisp grapes from Peru are sold in two-pound clamshell packs at Market District. They’re on sale in two-packs for $6.98, or about $1.75 per pound.

They’re not the sweetest I’ve eaten, and that’s exactly why they’re so good.

Super-sweet grapes start off as an exceptional experience. A rush of sugar floods the senses, delivering a surge of pleasure. For a few minutes, that sweetness is all that matters, and you want to eat the entire pack. But soon, the intensity overwhelms the palate, and every taste bud seems to cry out, “Enough.”

Anyone who has eaten Cotton Candy Grapes knows how quickly their sweetness shifts from exciting to exhausting. The flavor becomes so overpowering that it needs to be set aside, to the point where it’s hard to start eating them again, knowing how quickly that initial joy will fade.

No other fruit satisfies so quickly.

And that’s exactly the problem. This is why this week’s grapes stand out.

When grapes are too sweet, their texture, balance, and nuance get lost in the sugar high. But these grapes are different. I promise, they are the largest, crispiest, juiciest ones you’ve had in a long time. The sweetness is just right, and a touch of astringency keeps you coming back for more.

Each bite is crisp. The first cracks the skin. The second releases a burst of juice and sweetness. The third is pure perfection.

During the winter months, Autumn Crisp is now the most widely grown green grape in both Chile and Peru, which together supply most of the grapes found in U.S. stores when domestic fruit is out of season.

Year-round grape availability didn’t happen by accident. Through advances in breeding, logistics, and global distribution, grapes are now a constant presence on grocery shelves. In central Ohio, Autumn Crisp has become the dominant green grape, especially in winter. It’s the result of selective breeding, but it’s not just another table grape. It’s intellectual property.

Autumn Crisp is a patented variety developed by International Fruit Genetics. Like a prescription drug or a copyrighted song, it can’t be grown freely. Farmers must secure permission, pay licensing fees, sign contracts, and follow strict production standards. IFG controls who can grow the grape, where it’s planted, and how it’s sold.

This system, known as variety licensing, has reshaped the economics of grape farming. In the past, growers could plant open varieties like Thompson Seedless without restriction. Today, proprietary grapes such as Autumn Crisp are tightly controlled. Access is usually limited to large, well-capitalized growers with significant acreage.

The appeal is obvious. Autumn Crisp delivers consistent sweetness, a firm crunch, and strong visual appeal. Consumers like it, retailers can depend on it, and for approved growers, the numbers make sense.

Its popularity reflects a larger trend in produce: the rise of “designer” fruit bred not only for flavor, but for durability, uniformity, and performance across the supply chain. For IFG and its partners, it’s a successful model. For agriculture as a whole, it marks a future where even fruit is branded, regulated, and owned.

The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.

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