Lone Star Citrus Growers in Texas: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Lone Star Citrus Growers is an independently owned grapefruit and orange grower, packer and juice processor in Mission, Texas, founded in 2007. It markets Texas red grapefruit under the Winter Sweetz brand, and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller toured its facilities.
| Location | Mission, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 |
| Sectors | Texas red grapefruit and oranges; packing; juice |
| Scale | Packing and juice plants and a warehouse (acreage not published) |
| Why it is notable | Texas Citrus Mutual honored president Jud Flowers in 2017; state agriculture commissioner toured the facilities |
| Ownership | Independently owned and operated; led by Jud Flowers and his son Trent Bishop |
| Official website | Winter Sweetz about page (Lone Star Citrus Growers brand site) |
History of Lone Star Citrus Growers
The Winter Sweetz site says Jud Flowers and his son and business partner Trent Bishop started Lone Star Citrus Growers in 2007. Flowers began his citrus career in 1977 at Rio Farms and later worked at Pride O Texas and Healds Valley Farm, and Texas Citrus Mutual gave him its 2017 award for contributions to the state's citrus industry. A produce-industry profile describes three Rio Grande Valley locals with more than 65 years of combined Texas citrus experience.
Growth has been marketing as much as growing. The company has run annual consumer sweepstakes under the Sweeter in Texas banner and appeared at the Viva Fresh Produce Expo, steps aimed at introducing Texas red grapefruit to wider markets.
What Lone Star Citrus Growers Grows and Raises
The operation covers the chain from grove to shelf. Trade coverage of a visit by the Texas agriculture commissioner describes packing and juice plants and a warehouse, which he called a state-of-the-art facility. Key team members named include Trent Bishop in sales, T.J. Flowers in operations and Gustavo Serrano as warehouse general manager.
The product line is Texas red grapefruit and oranges, hand-picked and sold under the Winter Sweetz name. The Rio Grande Valley has a long grapefruit season, but freezes, water and disease remain real risks for any grower there.
How Lone Star Citrus Growers Makes Money
Fresh grapefruit and oranges
The core sale is fresh Texas citrus packed and shipped to retail buyers. A branded box gives the company a way to stand out from generic fruit.
Juice
Having a juice plant lets the company put fruit that is not ideal for the fresh market to use. This is a standard way citrus packers manage cosmetic grades.
Brand marketing
Consumer promotions and trade shows build recognition for Winter Sweetz. The company does not publish revenue.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Lone Star Citrus Growers
Brand a regional crop. A consistent name on a grapefruit box makes Texas fruit easier for buyers and shoppers to remember.
Own the packing shed. Controlling packing and processing helps a grower manage quality and reduce reliance on others.
A grapefruit has to be the only fruit that looks you in the eye and dares you to add sugar, and that is gold for farm satire. farm.FM runs on farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes, and Winter Sweetz hands us a brand name that sounds like a sweet tooth in a sunny Valley. We say it admiring a company that packs the fruit the right way.
farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, also runs Tractor Tunes, a country music lineup for farmers. For a sample of the writing, try the archive of one of its staff humorists.
How to Contact Lone Star Citrus Growers
Website: https://www.wintersweetz.com/pages/about-us
Address: 9625 N Moorefield Rd, Mission, TX 78574
Phone: (956) 424-7775
Email: info@wintersweetz.com
Contact details as published on the Winter Sweetz website, November 2026. Confirm the correct contact for retail, foodservice or media before reaching out.
Lone Star Citrus Growers Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Winter Sweetz about us - Company history and leadership
- Commissioner tours Lone Star Citrus Growers - Trade coverage of the facilities
- The Produce News: Lone Star Citrus season - Independent season coverage
- USDA NASS Census of Agriculture - Texas citrus acreage and farms
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - Citrus production by state
Lone Star Citrus Growers FAQ
Where is Lone Star Citrus Growers?
Mission, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley.
When was it founded?
In 2007.
What is Winter Sweetz?
The brand name for the company's Texas red grapefruit.
Does it have its own packing?
Trade coverage describes packing and juice plants and a warehouse.
Lone Star Citrus Growers is an example of a regional grower that controls its fruit from grove to box. Read the Texas state guide on this site and the other profiled operations for more on Valley agriculture.