Celebrate National Grapefruit Month this February!

Florida citrus farmers have been producing some of the finest grapefruit in the world for generations. The subtropical island fruit was brought to the Sunshine State in 1823 by Count Odette Philippe, a French businessman. But due to its bitter taste, most citrus lovers shunned the new fruit in favor of the much sweeter orange. The grapefruit was nothing more than a novelty fruit until 1929, when a new red variety of grapefruit was discovered in Texas.

What made it special?
Up until that point, all grapefruit had either white or pink flesh. The mutated red flesh was not only a different color, it was also much sweeter. Fast forward to the present day and grapefruit is now one of the top citrus crops in the nation. In fact, the United States is easily the world leader in grapefruit production, and about 70 percent of that crop is grown in Florida.

Unlike its former foe, the orange, grapefruit far more likely to be enjoyed fresh. Only about half of the grapefruit that are grown in Florida are sent to the processing plants for juicing, compared to 95 percent of Florida oranges. There are many reasonable explanations for this discrepancy, including the grapefruit’s reputation as a diet food.

One of the very first fad diets, the grapefruit diet has been around for more than eighty years now. The appeal was based on a myth that the exotic fruit contained a special fat-burning enzyme. Because it was easier to find than fresh juice, most dieters consumed the grapefruit in its natural form, often one half at a time. They might not have known it, but that is the best, most salubrious way to eat fruit. As popular as they are, fruit juices are not nearly as good for you as fresh fruit.

What’s the difference?
As with any fruit, most of the good stuff, the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are found in the skin and flesh of the fruit. When the grapefruit is juiced, most of that natural goodness is lost. This includes vitamin C, the powerful antioxidant that helps boost the immune system and fight off sickness during cold and flu season. Depending on its age and whether or not it was frozen, fresh grapefruit juice only contains between 50-75 percent of the vitamin C in a real grapefruit.

Dietary fiber is also completely lost during the juicing process. By comparison, a fresh grapefruit contains between 12-15 percent of the recommended daily allowance of dietary fiber. The essential macro-nutrient helps improve digestive health and may reduce the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer, particularly colon cancer.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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