Did you know the grapefruit was created by accident?
The grapefruit, was an “accidental cross” between an orange and a pomelo in Barbados. Though the grapefruit first landed on U.S. soil in the Sunshine State in 1823, the accidental fruit eventually found its way to Texas. Floridians grow a few more grapefruits per year, but it’s actually Texans who claim the red grapefruit as their official state fruit.
The red grapefruit variety was first discovered by Texas citrus growers in 1929 and is “renowned for its sweetness and rich, red interior.” It’s also got all these great health perks too– it contains no fat, lowers high levels of blood cholesterol, boosts iron absorption, is low in calories, and is rich in vitamin C. Besides those mega health benefits, the red grapefruit also boosts the Texas economy, generating more revenue than any other tree fruit produced within the state’s borders, according to the Texas legislature.
I can think of a number of ways to consume these gems of a fruit, but here’s a much more unique recipe for you to give a whirl. This Texas Grapefruit Cranberry Chicken is sweet and delicious (adapted from here). The sauce is a tart mixture of red grapefruit juice mixed with a little cranberry sauce to sweeten it up a bit and topped with grapefruit segments. And you’d better hustle, because the fresh grapefruit season typically runs from September through June. Time to get busy making this delicious chicken dish!
