Grapefruit History
Fruitful beginnings.
Unlike cranberries, grapefruit aren’t native to North America. In 1823, the French Count Philippe Odet brought them over from the West Indies to Florida, soon planting a grove in what is now Safety Harbor on the west shore of Tampa. In just about 50 years time, Florida made its first shipment of grapefruits to the ports of New York and Philadelphia in 1885. This created a whirlwind of interest in the fruit, launching the beginnings of the commercial grapefruit industry as we know it.
Grapefruit growers join the family.
In 1976, Ocean Spray expanded beyond cranberries, opening the door to grapefruit growers from Florida’s Indian River region to join the Ocean Spray family as part of our cooperative.
Growth in the industry.
Today, the United States remains the top producer of grapefruit worldwide, followed by China and South America. The fruit has also made its way into other industries, such as peel oil, essence, and medicine. Still, here at Ocean Spray we know that there's nothing quite like the bold taste and healthy goodness of our favorite member of the citrus family, the grapefruit.
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