Red grapefruit is currently available, having reached peak production. Grown in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Lone Star Citrus Growers is offering its new Winter Sweetz grapefruit, from October to April. Peak sweetness will continue until March. “Weather has been cooperative to this point in the season, and volume is moving nicely.” She also says quality is good, with grapefruit size slightly above average due to the rains experienced in October. Flowers reports that supplies are very good.
Consumption is on the rise, higher than last year even for Texas fruit. “Due to the supply shortage due to Hurricane Irma in Florida, consumption of Texas grapefruit is up considerably,” says April Flowers, marketing director.
Florida’s groves are experiencing continued difficulty with the after effects of the hurricane. “The biggest changes or challenges this season revolve around the supply shortage dynamic post Hurricane Irma,” explains Flowers. “When you remove 40 per cent of the domestic supply of winter grapefruit, that makes for a very challenging market structure. Although Texas is capable of filling as many of those gaps as possible, it does pose challenges.”
For more information:
April Flowers
Lone Star Citrus Growers
Ph: 956-424-7775