# White Grapefruits have disappeared. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088 "2014-01-17T19:19:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mtm105](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@mtm105](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtm105)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/1 "2014-01-17T19:19:47Z")
It seems like I’ve been the ONLY person in Amerika to notice the disappearance of white grapefruit from grocery shelves. Around Novemeber the supply was virtually unlimited whereas I’d go home with about 20 of them selling at up to five for a dollar. Supermarket could not get rid of them. Then about 10 years ago they stopped cold. No white grapefruits. Well, here it is. Pharmecutical companies have enough lobbying power to remove them. [http://producenews.com/index.php/9-news-section/story-cat/4370-4124](http://producenews.com/index.php/9-news-section/story-cat/4370-4124) so white grapefruits are seen as a liability because of cholesterol meds. It’s ass backwards. Eat white grapefruit to stay healthy to keep your cholesterol down. If you die from mixing them with your meds, shame on you. Not us! ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/2 "2014-01-17T19:28:35Z")
They’ve always been hard to find, and yes, I’ve noticed I can’t find them at all lately. Didn’t realize it was big Pharm’s fault. Assholes. I much prefer white grapefruit to the red variety. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/3 "2014-01-17T19:33:09Z")
I have a whole tree full. How many do you want? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/4 "2014-01-17T19:34:13Z")
Do pink and red grapefruit not have an issue with drug interaction. The warnings I’ve seen have always just said “grapefruit” in general. I’ve never seen them specifically spell out white grapefruit. The article is a little confusing to me–on one hand, it seems to say that American tastes and marketing is the issue, but then it also says pharmaceutical warnings were a problem. But the quotes say that grapefruit, in general, took a hit. They don’t specifically point it out as being the demise of white grapefruit. I also find it weird that it says in blind taste tests, every single subject preferred white grapefruit (which I find difficult to believe), and at the end the article ends with a quote from a citrus broker saying that Americans just don’t like white grapefruit. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/5 "2014-01-17T19:35:41Z")
As your link notes, it is timing related - take your meds at bedtime and grapefruit for breakfast and the problem is lessened. It is also dose dependent - a pharmacist I know says for lower doses there is nothing to worry about. I helped my grandfather plant a grove of white grapefruit and have always loved them. The seed filled Duncans are the best. ---
**Author:** ![mtm105](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@mtm105](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtm105)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/6 "2014-01-17T19:37:45Z")
you box 'em, I’ll buy 'em. I’ll be your #1 customer. Put your kids through college. Paypal? Please send request to [mtm105@netzero.net](mailto:mtm105@netzero.net) ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/7 "2014-01-17T20:08:28Z")
I just bought 2 at the grocery store a few days ago. Much better than pink or red. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/8 "2014-01-17T20:21:09Z")
I prefer pink grapefruit to white (I’m eating one as a type this), but I haven’t noticed any shortage here in California. I buy grapefruit every week, and I always have to check carefully to make sure I’m not getting a white one. They are definitely selling both in the stores I visit (Whole Foods also has grapefruit with green pulp). ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/9 "2014-01-17T20:45:28Z")
And yet, not a grape in sight! I really wonder who named these things. ---
**Author:** ![mtm105](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@mtm105](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtm105)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/10 "2014-01-17T20:49:41Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > I prefer pink grapefruit to white (I’m eating one as a type this), but I haven’t noticed any shortage here in California. I buy grapefruit every week, and I always have to check carefully to make sure I’m not getting a white one. They are definitely selling both in the stores I visit (Whole Foods also has grapefruit with green pulp). I was in Clovis, Central Valley CA for 3 years up to last May. Had orange groves 2 blocks from home. I could not find white grapefruit. THe only place was a single tree I used to pick on private property. I didn’t check Whole Foods, they are mindnumbingly expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/11 "2014-01-17T20:50:42Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I have a whole tree full. > How many do you want? I have a tree full as well. So do most of my neighbors. I am going to have a non-profit org come out in a few weeks and glean my tree; they give the fruit to food banks. (If you’re in the Los Angeles area, they’re called Food Forward, I highly recommend them.) So if you want white grapefruit, all you need to do is come to Los Angeles, and be a food bank patron at just the right time! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/12 "2014-01-17T20:55:04Z")
> [@mtm105](#): > > I didn’t check Whole Foods, they are mindnumbingly expensive. It really depends on what you’re buying. If you’re going to the meat and seafood counter, yeah, you’re paying a pretty penny. But some of the local produce is reasonably priced (and their bulk grains are priced very fairly, as well. Hell, I’d say cheap for the selection and quality, even.) Anyhow, I just went to my local grocery and, yeah, they got white grapefruit in addition to the ruby varieties. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/13 "2014-01-17T21:25:07Z")
Moved to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/14 "2014-01-17T21:44:42Z")
Holy crap. I don’t like eating grapefruit but I’ll drink the juice by the barrel. I remember as a kid Costco had the huge gallon-sized containers and we went through 2 of those a week. Loved the stuff. The pink grapefruit juice is just too sweet in comparison. I’ve been looking for “regular” grapefruit juice forever and it’s scarce and modest in quantity. I’ve been ranting and raving about this for the past 3-4 years or so. Good to see that it IS a conspiracy and that I haven’t been wearing my tinfoil hat for naught. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/15 "2014-01-17T22:51:15Z")
As long ago as 1978, I asked my grocer to give me a call if he ever got in a stock of white grapefruit. A month or two ago, I cut a grapefruit in half, and it was white inside, even though it had a sticker on it that said it was pink. I went back and got a lot more, before the store threw them in the dumpster as unsellable. ---
**Author:** ![mtm105](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@mtm105](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtm105)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/16 "2014-01-17T23:52:48Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > Holy crap. I don’t like eating grapefruit but I’ll drink the juice by the barrel. I remember as a kid Costco had the huge gallon-sized containers and we went through 2 of those a week. Loved the stuff. The pink grapefruit juice is just too sweet in comparison. I’ve been looking for “regular” grapefruit juice forever and it’s scarce and modest in quantity. I’ve been ranting and raving about this for the past 3-4 years or so. Good to see that it IS a conspiracy and that I haven’t been wearing my tinfoil hat for naught. I have an Oster Juicer. It’s about the 5th one I’ve owned over the past twenty or so years. I am a citrus addict. I’m glad I’m not the only alleged tin foil consipirarist. The article says people prefer white in blind test over and over. Every NOV on East Coast I’d get prepared for the plentitude of white grape fruits at the grocery store. Now, I’m forced to pay top dollar for mediocre Grapefruits from Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/17 "2014-01-18T06:34:28Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > And yet, not a grape in sight! I really wonder who named these things. They grow on the tree in clusters like a bunch of gigantic grapes. That’s why they’re called grapefruits. At least some varieties grow like that. [Pic.](http://e08595.medialib.glogster.com/media/92/923d2780a87bf563435eae05770aad5a07b88f7ecf8a505af6898a8b60fc2bd6/aa-jpg.jpg) But while googling up that photo, I saw other photos that didn’t appear to be in clusters like this. I miss grapefruit. (I always liked the red or pink kind – the actual fruit more than drinking juice.) But I’m taking a variety of meds, several of which say nix on grapefruit and/or grapefruit juice. None of them say anything about nixing any one particular hue of grapefruit. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/18 "2014-01-18T21:29:24Z")
Puzzled (perhaps stupidly) Brit here – _white_ grapefruit? I don’t think I’ve ever heard the expression over here. Presumably it means the yellow kind, as opposed to the pink, and red, kinds (?) At all events; the white, or yellow, variety is very easily and plentifully available in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/19 "2014-01-18T21:41:37Z")
The article doesn’t make a lot of sense. It talks about how market share of white grapefruit has fallen precipitously compared to pink and red, then blames it on medical warnings to avoid grapefruit juice. If that were really the cause, pink, red, and white grapefruit consumption would have declines equally. I don’t like pink, love white, and have never had red. Haven’t had white in several years, either — just not in the stores. “Mr. Mixon noted that there are pockets in the northeastern United States where whites are still popular….” I’m in Connecticut; there are only five states northeaster than here. Guess I’m just not in one of the pockets. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088/20 "2014-01-18T21:44:18Z")
> [@vontsira](#): > > Puzzled (perhaps stupidly) Brit here – _white_ grapefruit? I don’t think I’ve ever heard the expression over here. Presumably it means the yellow kind, as opposed to the pink, and red, kinds (?) Well, they’re yellow on the outside. 🙂 I guess they might be a very pale yellow on the inside, but if it is a yellow, it’s really very close to white. Of course, I could be remembering wrong; it’s been so long since I’ve seen one. _sniff_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-grapefruits-have-disappeared/679088.md?page=2)