The Sour-sweet Tale of Grapefruits

One of the healthiest members of the citrus family, the grapefruit has a wonderful history associated with it. In comparison to some of the other popular fruits, the history of grapefruits is relatively new. Infact, there are a few stories associated with this fruit leading to a little dilemma as to which theory to believe. This fruit of the citrus family is said to have originated first as a 'horticulture accident' in Jamaica in the year 1700. Also known as 'shaddock’ after its originator, a 17th century English ship commander, who brought seeds of the pummelo from the East Indies and delivered them to the West Indies in 1693.

The second theory offers a tale of deliberate hybridization, suggesting that the grapefruit is cross between an orange and the pummelo. This theory, however, has no records in its support. Whatever the case, the grapefruit can be considered as the offspring of pummelo (native to Malaysia and Indonesia), surprisingly about the size of an orange! This is an interesting observation indeed and clearly testifies for the theory of it being considered as a hybrid of the two citrus fruits.

Grapefruits did not fare well initially to register popularity with the people. It was known as the 'forbidden fruit' in Barbados in the mid 18th century. The name also migrated to Jamaica, where people also referred to it as the 'smaller shaddock’. Its bitter and acidic taste was not really liked by the Jamaicans. Its popularity began after its appearance in the US in 1823 when Count Odette Phillipe brought the seeds of grapefruit from the Bahamas to Safety Harbor near Tampa, Florida. The scenario began to change after 1885, when Florida carried out its first shipment of grapefruits to New York and Philadelphia. This was perhaps the first instance when the popularity of this citrus fruit initiated. Florida developed into a major commercial center with its burgeoning grapefruit crop of Duncan and Marsh varieties.

Soon the popularity of grapefruits spread across Texas, Arizona, and California, with grapefruit becoming a household name by the 1940's. Fresh and canned grapefruits were not only consumed within the country but also exported abroad. This inspired Jamaica, Trinidad, South America and Israel to jump into grapefruit cultivation. With increasing demand began the development of new varieties. Pink and red grapefruits became a popular item in the northern states. Another story describes a Texas citrus grower marveling at the red grapefruit growing on a tree that was yielding pink grapefruits. That mutation became a new cultivar named Ruby Red that was the first grapefruit granted a U.S. patent. That Texas Red became the official state fruit of Texas in 1993.

The grapefruit has thus traveled a long way in establishing its popularity in the global market. In spite of posing a bit of botanical mystery as to its origin, this fruit has found its way into the hearts of people all over the world.