What Does a California Grapefruit Taste Like?

Do you tend to think of grapefruit as a winter fruit? If you do, it’s not so surprising…many of our favorite citrus fruits are in season during the fall, winter and early spring months, including Navel Oranges, Tangerines and Ruby Red Grapefruit. But saying “sayonara” to winter doesn’t mean you have to bid citrus fruits farewell, too…summer varieties mean you can enjoy fresh citrus fruit year-round – and that includes grapefruit!

Grapefruit in the United States

Grapefruit was first introduced to Florida in the 1820s. The name stems from the way the fruit grows — in grape-like clusters. Today, grapefruit is grown in Florida, Texas, California, and Arizona. You’ll find Texas and Florida grapefruit in season from October through June, while Arizona and California grapefruit are in season from January through August.

Grapefruit Varieties

Grapefruits come seeded and seedless varieties, and all varieties have a mix of tartness and sweetness – some more than others. The flesh of a grapefruit can range in color from pale yellow to bright ruby red (like Hale Groves own Ruby Red Grapefruit). Red grapefruits tend to be sweeter than white grapefruits – in fact, a rule of thumb says that the redder the flesh of the grapefruit, the sweeter the grapefruit will be.

Health Benefits of Grapefruit

With only 80 calories in a whole fresh fruit, lots of fiber, and no fat or cholesterol, grapefruit is a great addition to your diet. They’re famous for having tons of vitamin C — one medium fruit contains about 73% of your daily recommended allowance. Grapefruit also contains a whopping 24% of your vitamin A needs (pink and red varieties have even more than the white ones). Besides being an antioxidant, vitamin A helps maintain healthy skin and hair. Keep in mind, though, that certain medications interact with fresh grapefruit and grapefruit juice. To find out about specific medications, ask your doctor, and for more information, check with the CDC.

Ways to Enjoy Grapefruit

Half a grapefruit is a classic breakfast choice – so much so that there are even special, serrated grapefruit spoons to help you enjoy it more easily! Grapefruit juice also makes an energizing, lower calorie alternative to orange juice. You can also toss grapefruit segments in a salad, make the fruit into a tropical salsa, or use grapefruit juice for a seafood marinade or in homemade vinaigrette.

Is Winter Grapefruit Sweeter Than Summer Grapefruit?

Hale Groves is famous for our Florida-grown Ruby Red Grapefruit, which is available beginning in November. In the summertime, you can enjoy our California-grown Heritage Grapefruit, another sweet, red variety. It’s delicious – but you don’t have to take our word for it: Here’s what one satisfied customer had to say:

“I’ve been ordering the Ruby Red Grapefruit for the past two months and was so sad to see they went out of season. Figured I’d give the Heritage ruby reds a shot to see if they were any good and they’re DELICIOUS!! The shipping was fast and they arrived fresh. They’re even bigger than the regular Ruby Reds. I like to keep mine in the fridge so they last longer and to have a cold fresh treat in the morning. I can’t recommend them enough.” – Hale Groves Customer Even from Jersey City, NJ

Fruit Delivered to Your Home from Hale Groves

Not only is having fresh fruit delivered to your door ultra-convenient – when ordering fruit from Hale Groves, you know you can expect quality far above what you’d ever find in a local supermarket! The Heritage Grapefruit you receive from Hale Groves will have glossy, fine-textured, brightly colored skin and bright, pinky-red flesh, and will be heavy with sweet, sweet juice. That’s because we leave the fruit on the tree for as long as necessary to soak up every last drop of sweetening sunshine – in fact, your fruit is still on the tree at the time you place your order, then rushed to you in perfect condition at the peak of freshness.

Psst…when ordering a box of lovely, flavorful Heritage Grapefruit for yourself, don’t forget about your friends and family! Fresh fruit gift boxes from Hale Groves make wonderful, thoughtful gifts that are always appreciated.