Grapefruit

History

The grapefruit we know today was developed in the West Indies in the early 1700s and first introduced to the United States in the 1820s. Officially named Citrus X paradisi by 1830, grapefruit, which only had white flesh at that time, was established as its own citrus species.

Grapefruit Today

The fruit inside is juicy and varies in color and flavor depending on variety. Whether the flavor is sweet or tart, grapefruit has a distinctive, sometimes astringent and slightly bitter overtone. Some varieties are mildly sweet, while others are intensely sweet. Some grapefruits have white flesh inside, some delicately pink, while others, known as “ruby reds” appear intensely red. The grapefruit varieties are divided into two main categories—the white and the red.

Popular varieties grown today include Duncan, Foster, Marsh, Oroblanco, Paradise Navel, Redblush, Star Ruby, Rio Red, Ruby Sweet, Sweetie, Thompson, and Triumph.

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Gless Ranch

Over five generations of experience and knowledge. Gless Ranch orchards have been producing California citrus since 1907.

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The highly publicized grapefruit diet of the 1970s claimed that a person could lose 10 pounds in 12 days by consuming either one-half grapefruit or eight ounces of grapefruit juice with every meal. Grapefruit, because of its enzymes, was said to literally burn fat away, yet no scientific evidence has proved this claim.

Season

Grapefruit’s peak season is January through June.

Ripeness

For a juicy grapefruit, choose one that feels solid and weighty. Look for a shiny, smooth skin to be sure of freshness. Reject those with soft areas, large brown spots, or dull dry looking skin.

Storage

Grapefruit can keep a week or slightly longer at room temperatures of 65° or higher. For longer storage, about six to eight weeks, store the fruits in the fruit and vegetable keeper of the refrigerator.

Grapefruit has a full range of B vitamins with the exception of vitamin B12 and contain about 28mcg of folic acid.

Grapefruit sections are a good source of vitamin C ranging from 79 to 88mg.

Grapefruit offers potassium, and magnesium as well as trace amounts of iron and zinc.