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Ruby Red Saves the Day
he U.S. is the world’s third largest
Although it tasted like the original white
producer of citrus fruit, after Brazil
grapefruit, the new pink version let farmers
and China. That’s an impressive feat
know that other varieties were possible.
when only Florida, California, Texas, and
Based on knowledge of orange
Arizona grow commercial crops! When it
mutations over hundreds of
comes to grapefruit, the U.S. is unmatched,
centuries, grapefruit farmers
growing more than one-third of the world’s
gambled on the chance that
supply. Florida is our top producing state,
the next variety would be
supplying approximately 75% of the crop.
sweeter than its bitter ancestors. That bet
Ironic, given the fruit’s chilly reception when it
paid off big in 1929 when an orchard owner
arrived there in the 1800s.
discovered a red grapefruit growing on a pink grapefruit
Originally thought to be an offshoot of the
tree. That mutation, given
pomelo, grapefruit is a relative newcomer
the name Ruby Red, was
to the commercial citrus family. Although it
the first grapefruit to
was first distinguished as a different species
receive a U.S. patent and
in James MacFayden’s Flora of Jamaica in
gave rise to the Texas Red
1837 with the botanical name, Citrus paradisi,
grapefruit industry. With its
that name was adjusted in 1948, when citrus
striking red flesh and sweet
specialists deemed it an accidental hybrid
taste, the fruit was an instant
between the pomelo and orange. Upon its
hit. The Texas Red became the
arrival in Florida, the tree was grown only as
official fruit of Texas in 1993.
a novelty and fruit was little utilized. Citrus lovers who had been raised on sweet oranges
The impact this single discovery had on the
were turned off by the sour-bitter taste
grapefruit industry cannot be overstated.
of the white-fleshed fruit. As the booming
Before the Ruby Red, grapefruit was largely
orange industry thrived in the Sunshine State,
overlooked or treated as an exotic island fruit
grapefruit was more of a novelty crop that was
by most Americans. After Ruby came
not sold commercially. Then, in two-stepped
along, grapefruit became one of the nation’s
Texas and changed the industry.
favorite breakfast foods and spurred a diet trend. Although Florida eventually regained
Though locals were slow to embrace
the lead in grapefruit production, the current
grapefruit, Texas fruit farmers continued
success of the U.S. grapefruit industry and the
to plant it. This diligence paid off when they
evolution of more popular varieties of grapefruit
discovered that grapefruit was prone to
must be credited to the persistence of Texas
mutation, and a pink variety began to grow.
farmers and the state’s Ruby Red discovery.
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ELEGANT ISLAND LIVING
OPPOSITE PAGE: Citrus-infused liquor makes excellent cocktails. Instead of spending money on flavored vodka, make your own by steeping citrus peels in the liquor for a few days. The bright, cheery peels look beautiful suspended in the jar or bottle too.
