IN SEASON : Just in Time: Texas Grapefruit

For the first time in several years, you should be able to find Texas grapefruit in the grocery stores this winter. Citrus growers in the Rio Grande Valley, hard-hit by two devastating freezes in the last 10 years, are expecting to ship their first sizable harvest since 1988.

This year’s citrus harvest is expected to range from 2 1/2 to 3 million cartons--that’s up from 1991’s 150,000 cartons but still far short of 1988’s 20 million. About 75% of the Texas citrus harvest is grapefruit.

The harvest, which should start next week, looks as if it will be of good quality. And it comes just in time--California’s grapefruit season is nearing an end and prices are fairly high.

* On the other hand, lime prices--which should be skyrocketing after Hurricane Andrew ruined the Florida crop--are actually lower than they were last year. Why? Mexican imports have been flooding the market as everyone tries to take advantage of the shortfall.

* And the California Valencia orange harvest is beginning, though quality is still iffy. Navels are still finishing up, so prices should be reasonable.

* Broccoli and cauliflower should be coming down in price as the Salinas-Watsonville and Santa Maria fields start to return to normal harvest patterns, but be sure to look carefully before you buy. Word is that the quality of vegetables from the Salinas-Watsonville area is variable. Lettuce prices, which have been sky-high the last month, should be coming down a bit as well.

* Onions should be a bit more expensive as growers start moving their crops to storage, waiting for better prices. Russet potato prices are low because we’re into the high-quality (and, this year, high-quantity) Idaho Burbank Russet season.

* It looks as if plum prices are finally “recovering”--that is, going up. After a summer that saw growers practically giving fruit away, the last of the Angeleno and Roysum plums are being picked.

* On the apple front, Red and Golden Delicious are lower, Galas are higher and Granny Smiths are right in the middle. The first Jonagolds and Rome Beauties are coming in from Washington.

* Grape prices are very reasonable, as the market is flooded with Thompson Seedless, Ribier, Red Globe, Christmas Rose and Flame Seedless varieties, all from the San Joaquin Valley.