SummerStar Ruby is a new variety of grapefruit being sold across Europe this summer. Sweet and tangy, it hails from sunny South Africa and is bringing fresh inspiration to summer menus all over the continent.

But this grapefruit is more than just delicious, it’s grown with sustainability and ethical farming at its core. As today’s consumers increasingly seek products that meet high environmental and social standards, SummerStar Ruby stands out as a responsible choice.

So, what are the growers doing to ensure that what consumers find on supermarket shelves meets these expectations?

Smart water use and adapting to a changing climate

SummerStar Ruby growers use a range of water-saving methods, including Regulated Deficit Irrigation, low-flow drip irrigation, and other smart irrigation systems, such as soil moisture sensors and weather-based irrigation scheduling.

Thanks to South Africa’s summer rainfall, the fruit requires on average about 45% less water than other citrus products.

The variety is also well-suited to the country’s semi-arid climate. They have a strong tolerance to heat stress and saline irrigation, which also makes them adaptable to changing climate conditions.

Precision agriculture innovations for lower impact

In addition to smart irrigation practices, the growers are embracing other advanced technologies to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Drone technology is widely used for aerial monitoring, helping growers assess canopy health, detect pest infestations early, and identify areas of stress across large orchards. GPS-guided equipment ensures fertilisers and crop protection products are applied accurately, minimising overlap and environmental impact.

Many farms also use farm management software that consolidates data from weather stations, field sensors, and satellite imagery, helping growers make informed decisions about planting, harvesting, and resource allocation. Together, these tools form a data-driven ecosystem that supports sustainable and high-performance grapefruit production.

Healthier growing practices

Healthy soils are key to healthy fruit. SummerStar Ruby growers use cover cropping and organic mulching to improve soil structure, capture carbon, prevent erosion, and stimulate additional biological activity.

They also widely implement Integrated Pest Management – using natural predators and biological pest control over chemicals wherever possible.

Certifications that matter

Consumers can be confident that SummerStar Ruby Grapefruits are cultivated under strict sustainability standards. Many growers hold certifications such as GlobalG.A.P., SIZA and Rainforest Alliance, which ensure responsible farming practices that focus on soil health, biodiversity conservation, water quality and responsible pesticide use.

A commitment to ethical labour

Given South Africa’s history, ethical labour is taken seriously. To help manage this, the local fruit industry developed the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA), a third-party audit system based on national labour laws and additional retailer requirements. The framework ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, freedom of association and zero tolerance for bonded or child labor.

Worker welfare programmes further support economic transformation and skills development, while independent and transparent grievance mechanisms provide fair processes for dispute resolution.

Investing in local communities

Growers also invest in long-term development initiatives that support the communities around their farms. This includes funding for local schools, providing scholarships for children of farm workers, and partnering with NGOs on early childhood development initiatives.

Healthcare access is also prioritised, with farm communities receiving regular access to mobile clinics and wellness campaigns.The growers also support housing improvements and transport services for seasonal workers, which helps to ensure dignity and safety beyond the workplace.

Community nutrition programmes, youth sport sponsorships, and skills development workshops further demonstrate the growers’ dedication to holistic well-being.

SummerStar Ruby Grapefruit is therefore a sustainably grown, ethically produced, and climate-smart fruit. European consumers can enjoy its sweet, tangy flavour this summer – knowing it has been produced with care for people and the planet.

^*by Barry Landman, Chairman of the Grapefruit Variety Focus Group, Citrus Growers’ Association (CGA) of Southern Africa

The Plant Nursery Area, an exhibition of innovations in the plant nursery industry, will host four workshops on the new frontiers in genetic improvement at the 42nd edition of Macfrut, the international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable supply chain, to be held in Rimini next May.

The ‘Varieties International Project’ (VIP) is a series of focus sessions on genetic improvement and new varieties in modern fruit growing and will include four workshops with top experts in the field of breeding, as well as leading global companies specialising in genetics and variety development. The workshops will take place at Macfrut, the international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable supply chain, from Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 May, as part of the Plant Nursery Area, the exhibition of innovations in the plant nursery industry.

The first two days of the trade fair will feature a total of four events. Apple and pear tree varieties will be discussed on Tuesday 6 May, with Actinidia in the afternoon. On Wednesday 7 May, the focus will be on new stone fruit and citrus varieties.

‘It is a unique opportunity to learn about the results of the world’s most important fruit and citrus breeding projects,’ explains Stefano Lugli, coordinator of the Plant Nursery Area at Macfrut 2025, ‘and a great opportunity to talk directly to those who are creating and developing these innovations: breeders, publishers, management consortia and plant nurseries.’

Breeding today is all about commitment, creativity, strategic planning and the sharing of roles and expertise across sectors to achieve a common goal, which is to create innovative and fully sustainable products across the industry in order to meet the current needs of producers, markets and consumers.
‘Creating new fruit varieties and turning them into a profitable business,’ adds Lugli, ‘requires combining scientific expertise in genetics and genomics with business skills and market insight, strategic cross-industry partnerships and the development of effective branding and marketing strategies. Only by following this approach, in addition to investing in innovative breeding programmes, conducting in-depth market research, securing intellectual property rights and developing effective branding policies, establishing strong partnerships and pursuing continuous innovation can we develop authentic new fruit varieties that meet consumer needs and stand out in the market.’

As objectives change, new technologies are providing breeders with more precise and effective tools to help them achieve these new goals.

‘Over the past few years,’ concludes Lugli, ‘fruit breeding has largely shifted from focusing on its traditional objectives to focusing on new ones. The development and selection of genetic innovations, including new varieties and rootstocks, is now more sensitive to critical issues such as environmental and cultural sustainability, adaptation to climate change and resistance to major pests. Recent advances in biotechnology, through genetic and molecular approaches, have enabled these priorities to be achieved more quickly and at a lower cost than was possible until recently.’

The VIP – Varieties International Project is organised by Macfrut and sponsored by SOI (Italian Society for Horticultural Science), CIVI Italia (Interprofessional Centre for Nursery Activities) and EUFRIN (European Fruit Research Institutes Network).