The Rise of the Texas Grapefruit Industry

Image via Wikipedia

Long before Texas became a state in 1845, it was clear that the land was rich in natural resources. In addition to impressive petroleum reserves, the land also had abundant mineral deposits.

Not to mention the fact that the climate made it perfect for farming and growing a myriad of essential agricultural products. At present, Texas is home to more farms with more acreage than any other state in the nation.

Today we are going to discuss the history of a relatively small but prosperous industry that owes its success to a natural accident. We are talking about the Texas grapefruit, better known as the Ruby Red grapefruit.

As you may have guessed, the grapefruit and other citrus fruits are not native to Texas. And though its origins are occasionally disputed, most botanists and historians believe that grapefruits were first cultivated in the 17th century on the island of Jamaica. The fruit was later named the grapefruit because of the way it grew in clusters, like grapes. But we know surprisingly little about this popular breakfast food until it was brought to Florida in 1823.

Unfortunately for the grapefruit, however, another, far taster citrus fruit had already established itself in the Sunshine State. The Florida orange has been around for centuries, and by the late 1820's farmers were already selling their wares commercially all over the state. This relegated the grapefruit to the role of mere novelty in a state that would soon be awash in oranges. A few decades later, Spanish missionaries brought grapefruit seeds with them to South Texas. It was a match made in fruit heaven as the subtropical climate of the region was perfect for growing grapefruit, a subtropical citrus fruit.

According to state historians, the first Texas grapefruit crop was planted in 1893. However, the fruit was far from an instant success. In fact, most of the early crops were experimental in nature and the exotic new fruit was simply given away to local residents. But all that changed in 1914 when a developer named John H. Shary suddenly became convinced that the Texas grapefruit was the crop of the future. Shortly thereafter, Shary purchased 16,000 acres of land and grew his first crops of white and pink grapefruit.

The new fruit was finally offered commercially in 1920. But the Texas grapefruit remained little more than an exotic fruit until 1929. That is when that natural accident we mentioned earlier occurred. What was it? While science calls it a simple mutation, the farmers and the business executives knew they had a winner on their hands.

The new Texas grapefruit was a red mutation that had grown on a pink tree. And not only did it look different from every other grapefruit that had come before it, but it was also sweeter than its predecessors. This new variety of Texas grapefruit was dubbed the “Ruby,” and it was the first fruit to actually obtain a U.S. patent. By the early 1960's, the “Ruby” was so popular that Texas jettisoned the white and pink varieties for good.

Farm Fresh Gifts Since 1926

For nearly a century, Pittman & Davis has shared the bold, sun-kissed flavors of the Rio Grande Valley and beyond. From tree-ripened citrus to smoked meats, pastries, and handcrafted specialties, every gift reflects the land it comes from, the people who craft it, and the unforgettable taste it delivers.

Shop Now