Grapefruit is a hybrid that developed out of a spontaneous cross between the pummelo (also spelt as pomelo) and sweet orange. The name “grapefruit” was chosen, because of the way the fruit grew in grapelike clusters. American horticulturists initially wanted to call the species “Pomelo”, but the name change caused confusion with the “Pummelo” so “grapefruit” stuck.
South African grapefruits, botanically classified as Citrus paradisi, are a category of commercial cultivars belonging to the Rutaceae or citrus family. Grapefruits were introduced to South Africa sometime in the mid-19th and early 20th centuries and were established as a commercial citrus crop primarily for export.
South African grapefruits vary in size, appearance, and flavor, depending on the variety. Several types of grapefruit are generally sold under the collective name, and these varieties range in size from 8 to 15 centimeters in diameter. South African grapefruits are available in the fall through winter.
South African grapefruits are only consumed on a small scale domestically as fresh fruit. South African grapefruits are famous as an exported fruit. Citrus exports began in the early 20th century in South Africa and were initially controlled by a single export entity known as the South African Cooperative Citrus Exchange from the 1940s through the mid-1990s. Later, in 1996, new legislation was passed to open exports through multiple outlets.
In 2024, South African grapefruits were notably exported to China, the Netherlands, Japan, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.
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Today, South African grapefruits are centralized in production in the Limpopo province of South Africa. They are also grown in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Northern Cape.
South Africa is not a major importer of grapefruit as supply far exceeds domestic demand. Imports mainly originate from Eswatini to fill the small demand gap toward the end of the season.
South African grapefruits vary in vitamin and mineral content, depending on the specific variety. South African grapefruits have a sweet, tart, and tangy flavor suited for fresh and cooked preparations. Grapefruits are consumed worldwide as fresh fruit.
International Grapefruit Production and South Africa's Role
Grapefruit thrives in warm subtropical climates. China is the biggest producer. In 2018, grapefruit production accounted for roughly half of all the grapefruit produced in the world. Despite achieving a mere 4% of the total production, South Africa grapefruit production accounted for 25% of all grapefruit exports in 2018. This makes it the biggest grapefruit exporter by far.
The Netherlands is the main exporter of grapefruit, with 16.6% of all imported grapefruit (this grapefruit is imported from other countries in order to be repackaged and exported). It should nevertheless be remembered that the Netherlands often redistribute its imports to other parts of Europe.
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Most of South Africa’s grapefruit are sold overseas, with the export market accounting for almost 70% of all sales in 2017. It can be enjoyed fresh for breakfast, as a snack, or used in salads. It is one of the lowest-calorie fruit, yet rich in nutrients and fibre, which is one of the reasons why it is often included in weight-reducing diets.
South African yields and Middle Eastern exports
Walk down the aisles of a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods Market in the US, and chances are many of the piles of oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit will be labeled “Produce of South Africa.” They have become a staple in the US - the world’s largest citrus importer - especially during the off-season summer months when in the southern hemisphere the South African winter harvest is at its peak.
Bloomberg South Africa is the world’s second-largest exporter of citrus fruits, behind Spain.
Key Grapefruit Varieties in South Africa
Several varieties are grown throughout the country in the present day, including Star Ruby, Marsh, Redheart, Rose, Pomelit, and Jackson. In 2024, Star Ruby grapefruits accounted for around 88% of the total production, followed by Marsh grapefruits at around 10%.
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Star Ruby accounted for over 80% of the total area registered for exports in 2018. Star Ruby was developed by Dr Dick Hensz in Texas through irradiated Hudson grapefruit seed. The fruit has a smooth yellow skin with a red background and deep red-coloured flesh.
Marsh was introduced by CM Marsh in Florida around the 1860s from a chance seedling from a Duncan tree on a property of a Mrs Rushing. He took budwood for propagation from one of the trees, when he saw that it was seedless and started selling the budded offspring. The fruit is large and white, seedless and primarily used for fresh consumption and juicing. For a long time, it was the leading cultivar planted in South Africa.
A dedicated committee of Star Ruby growers plan to reinvent the fruit’s image and drive new growth in the category. The group forms part of the Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) of Southern Africa and contributes voluntarily to a collaborative marketing budget. “The CGA’s Grapefruit Variety Focus Group recognised the urgent need to change how grapefruit is viewed. The growers realised that shifting perceptions would require a substantial marketing effort and that collaboration was key.
“By working together, we are building a stronger future for the industry,” says Landman. “South Africa is one of the major suppliers of Star Ruby Grapefruits globally, which presents huge growth potential. It made good business sense to rebrand and position it as a healthy and affordable summer fruit, capitalising on the warm European months when consumers are looking for fresh and easy foods. Europe was chosen as the target market for this campaign because there is a legacy of long-standing trade relations with South Africa and a consistent track record of demand for citrus fruit.
The citrus season in South Africa stretches from March to July, depending on the variety and climatic conditions.
Sustainability and Modern Farming Practices
SummerStar Ruby, a grapefruit variety from South Africa, is being marketed across Europe this summer. The variety is produced under methods that aim to address sustainability, water management, and labour practices. Certification schemes play a role in production standards. Many SummerStar Ruby growers hold GlobalG.A.P., Rainforest Alliance, and SIZA certifications, which verify compliance with protocols on soil management, biodiversity, water use, and pesticide application.
Growers apply water-saving techniques such as Regulated Deficit Irrigation, low-flow drip systems, soil moisture sensors, and weather-based irrigation scheduling. According to the industry, grapefruit production in South Africa requires, on average, about 45% less water than other citrus crops due to the country's summer rainfall. The variety is also suited to semi-arid climates, with tolerance to heat stress and saline irrigation. Farm management software integrates weather station data, field sensors, and satellite imagery, supporting decisions on planting, irrigation, and harvest timing.
Soil health practices include cover cropping and organic mulching to enhance soil structure and reduce erosion. Integrated Pest Management is implemented, with natural predators and biological agents used in preference to chemical control where possible.
Drone monitoring is applied to assess canopy health, detect pest pressure, and identify stress zones across orchards. GPS-guided machinery enables the targeted application of fertilisers and crop protection products.
Labour practices are monitored through the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA), a third-party system aligned with national legislation and additional buyer requirements. The programme ensures wages, working conditions, and freedom of association are in line with standards and prohibits bonded or child labour. Worker support includes training, skills development, and grievance mechanisms.
Community projects are part of production structures. Farms fund education initiatives, provide scholarships for worker families, and collaborate with NGOs on early childhood programmes. Access to healthcare is supported through mobile clinics and wellness programmes. Housing and transport support are provided to seasonal workers, and community development extends to nutrition initiatives, youth sport, and skills training.
Challenges and Future Outlook
South African grapefruit production is expected to rise slightly in 2024-25. Grapefruit acreage in South Africa has been shrinking since 2020-21, reflecting a downward trend in global consumption. The area planted in 2024-25 will likely decrease to 7,900 hectares, down 1% from the prior year.
The industry has reported improved prices for processing grapefruit since 2023, leading USDA FAS to forecast that grapefruit sold for processing will increase by 2% in 2024-25, to 211,000 MT.
South Africa is expected to increase its grapefruit exports by 1% in 2024-25, to 215,000 MT, based on the minimal improvement in production. Major export markets for South Africa include the Netherlands, China, Russia and Japan.
The US duties will be the latest blow to the industry that employs about 140,000 people at the farm level. The CGA estimates that logistical inefficiencies already cost the sector 5.3 billion rand a year. South Africa is among countries slapped with the steepest tariffs, placing it at an immediate disadvantage while competing with its citrus producing South American rivals, like Peru and Chile.
To mitigate the impacts of the tariffs, growers may opt to reroute their fruit to other markets, including Europe, but that could undermine the stability in those markets and have “a knock-on effect on the entire Southern African citrus industry,” Ntshabele warned.
The sector is “looking to add about 100 million export cartons by 2032, and therefore continuously working on diversifying exports markets,” he said. “This will remain our focus in the near term.”
As farmers look to widen their export markets, they could turn to China and other Asian countries, said Paul Makube, a senior agricultural economist at First National Bank. China’s recent announcement of a plan to grant 53 African nations tariff-free access presents an opportunity for citrus farmers to expand there.
“It has become increasingly important to start diversifying, and with the Asian markets with their big populations and income growth in China, India, they need to start opening up those Asian markets,” Makube said.
That said, growing the industry’s presence in the world’s top market for the fruits remains critical. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sought to reset strained relations with the US during an Oval Office meeting with Trump in Washington in May. South Africa is asking the US to drop its reciprocal tariff to the 10% baseline. “We believe that if we have a live conversation going, we will be excluded from the 30%, maybe sitting with the 10%,” said Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen. “That still allows us to compete against some of our competitors, particularly in the South American market.”
With no indications the tariff situation will improve, Van der Merwe is worried. “I think 10% is manageable; it’s not ideal,” said the ALG Estates chief. “For now, we’re asking to be handled the same as Peru and Chile - our competition.
Climate Change Adaptation
Climate change adaptation policies and strategies have inevitably become an integral component of agricultural production on a global scale. Citrus production in tropical regions such as South Africa, is more vulnerable to climate change as the region already experience hot and dry climate, hence the need to implement different strategies for climate change adaption in these regions.
This study was designed to assess the effect of adopting the following climate change adaptation measures: planting drought resistant varieties, rainwater harvesting, planting early maturing varieties, integrated pest management (IPM) , changing fertiliser type, and applying drip irrigation to manage climate challenges on the production efficiency of citrus farmers in the Limpopo province of South Africa.
The stochastic frontier production function with Cobb Douglas production functional form was used to analyse the productivity of farmers’ vis-à-vis adopted climate change strategies. A survey was conducted and data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire administered to respondents from 235 production units in the five district municipalities of Limpopo.
Climate change substantially defines agricultural productivity as it influences several input balances, which support the entire agricultural system. The impacts of climate change are manifested in many ways, which include prolonged periods of moisture stress, high incidence of pests and diseases, increased salinity, high temperatures and floods (Khanal et al. 2018a). Global moisture stress and temperature variation have severe effects on world food production (Khanal et al. 2018b).
The Integrated Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2013) predicted an increase in temperature of between 0.8 and 4 degrees in the 21st century. In perennial crops such as citrus fruits, high temperatures may affect the budding of flowers in winter whereas during the fruit development phase, incidences of high temperature and moisture stress compromises fruit maturation and expansion (De Ollas et al. 2019), thus impacting negatively the overall quantity and quality of fruits. The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has also been found to increase the incidence of plant pests and diseases, thus indirectly reducing yield (Rajatiya et al. 2018).
Various governments and international development organisations have begun to develop strategies to adapt to the ravaging effects of climate change (UNDP 2007). The United Nations Development Plan (UNDP) initiative of the climate adaptation programme has a well-defined framework, which is structured to oversee implementation of the adaptation programme of countries and regions to climate change (UNDP 2007).
The Limpopo government’s response to the climate affront has propelled a five-point agenda on climate change management initiative with focus on the following areas: agriculture, water supply, ecosystems (terrestrial and aquatic), human health livelihoods and settlements. The researchers’ motivation for this study, thus aligns mainly with agriculture and water supply.
The Limpopo provincial government aims to ensure that proposed water-related infrastructure projects explicitly integrate climate change resilience into their planning and design stages (LEDET 2008). Farm level adaptation strategies listed in the provincial plan include: plant management, integrated pest management (IPM) and soil and water conservation techniques.
The citrus industry is unique because it mainly depends on irrigation, therefore drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting were some of the adaptation strategies specified for the citrus industry (LEDET 2016). The following common adaptation strategies were identified from the literature with regard to crop production in Africa: the use of drought resistant varieties, crop diversification, soil moisture conservation, changes in planting dates and improved irrigation (Akinnagbe & Irohibe 2014; Kuwornu et al. 2013).
Hydrological drought implies there is not enough water for irrigation therefore there won’t be enough water for each production stage for the crops. Empirical evidence on impacts of climate change for the citrus crops in South Africa is relatively scarce.
In Limpopo, farmers are already engaging in various measures towards adapting to the climate inconstancy, however, it is unclear how resilient these interventions would be in the face of extreme climate change complexities (Vermeulen et al. 2010). Empirical evidence also shows that although farmers have embraced adaptation strategies to counter the impacts of climate change, such interventions come at a cost (Khanal et al. 2018a; Rajatiya et al. 2018), which is likely to impact the profit and technical efficiency of crop production (Roco et al. 2017).
The objective of this study is, therefore, to analyse the influence of drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, IPM, use of drought resistant varieties, and changes in type of fertiliser used on production efficiency of citrus farmers in the Limpopo province, South Africa.
Study Area: Limpopo Province
The study was carried out in the Limpopo province of South Africa (see Figure 1), from September 2017 to February 2018. The Limpopo province lies on a land expanse of about 125 754 km2 representing close to 10.4 % of the entire topography of South Africa. It has a population of approximately 5.4 million people with 55% being women (Stats SA 2016). The citrus farmers in the area consist mainly of commercial farmers, although smallholder farmers are also available.
The province accounts for the largest production of citrus in South Africa (DAFF 2017). Besides other climatic variables that may include temperature range and humidity, rainfall is a critical factor in determining the success of agricultural production.
The Limpopo province was purposively sampled as the study area because the province is the number one citrus producer in the country, therefore, it has a large number of farmers. According to the statistics provided by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture, there were approximately 598 production units in 2017. The population consisted of PUCs across the five district municipalities in the Limpopo province comprising both commercial and smallholder farmers.
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