Citrus Fruit Developed in Rio Grande Valley - Red-Meat Grapefruit
Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Unique and colorful product of saline-alkaline soil of Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Bred of Thompson Pink Wood budded on Sour Orange rootstock. Two nurserymen, A. E. Henninger of Mission and Dr. J. R. Webb of Donna, discovered red fruit in their orchards in 1929. They cast lots and Henninger won right to get a patent. He named his variety "Ruby Red," and was issued U.S. Plant Patent No. 53. Dr. Webb's new strain, "Red Blush," is equally popular. Both varieties, with rose-colored meat and red-tinged rinds, are sweet, early, delectable fruits. (1966)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The Rio Grande Valley's red-meat grapefruit was born of the region's saline-alkaline soil, bred from Thompson Pink budded onto sour orange rootstock. In 1929 nurserymen A. E. Henninger of Mission and Dr. J. R. Webb of Donna each found red fruit in their orchards; they cast lots, and Henninger won the right to patent his "Ruby Red" as U.S. Plant Patent No. 53, while Webb's "Red Blush" proved equally popular. Both rose-fleshed, red-tinged varieties became sweet, early-ripening favorites.
Why it matters
The Ruby Red made Texas grapefruit famous nationwide and stands as an early landmark in the American practice of patenting new plant varieties.
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Related people
- · A. E. Henninger
- · J. R. Webb
Themes & tags
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