Grove to Store

Texas red grapefruit and oranges are grown in the Rio Grande Valley, where the unique environment creates ideal conditions for citrus. Few fruits are as sensitive to climate variations as citrus, making South Texas’ subtropical climate especially well-suited for their cultivation. Warm breezes from the Gulf of Mexico, combined with fertile soil and abundant sunshine, work together to produce exceptional fruit.

Lone Star Citrus Growers maintains the highest crop quality through innovative irrigation methods, careful management of growing conditions, precise pruning techniques, integrated pest management programs, and ongoing research.

Lone Star Citrus Growers operates year-round, continuously monitoring tree health and fruit development to ensure only the highest quality citrus reaches the packing house. By evaluating size, internal and external color, sugar levels, sugar-to-acid ratios, and overall appearance throughout the season, the company ensures each piece of fruit is hand-picked at peak perfection.

From the moment freshly harvested fruit arrives at our facility, it is assigned a unique identifier that tracks when and where it was picked. As it moves through washing, grading, and sizing, this identity is maintained, ensuring full traceability throughout the process.

Packed into cartons, bags, or bins based on customer needs, every product is labeled with a traceability barcode. Supported by proprietary software and advanced PLU technology, we can trace each shipment—and even individual pieces of fruit—back to its origin, reinforcing our commitment to quality and food safety.

From October through December, freshly harvested fruit enters our degreening rooms, where controlled levels of ethylene, heat, and humidity gently enhance the fruit’s natural color without affecting its internal quality. Citrus naturally produces small amounts of ethylene as it matures—a process that supports ripening—and we carefully amplify these conditions to achieve consistent, uniform color.

Once fully colored, the fruit is washed, dried, and coated with a light food-grade wax before moving through grading and sizing. We use a “run and catch” system, holding fruit in bulk rather than pre-packing, which allows us to respond directly to customer orders. This ensures every order is packed to specification within 24 hours of shipment, delivering fresh, high-quality citrus while minimizing waste.

With 15 docking stations, Lone Star Citrus Growers is equipped to efficiently meet the timing and capacity needs of our customers. We understand the importance of timely loading and are committed to operating our shipping department with maximum efficiency. Our sales team works closely with the packing house, ensuring seamless coordination to deliver quality fruit and exceptional service.