« Back to Agriculture page Question How did the grapefruit get its name? It doesn't look like a grape. Answer It is believed that the name refers to the manner in which grapefruit grows in clusters on a tree. Grapefruit. SNAP-Ed Connection, U.S. Department of Agriculture.Most botanists agree that the grapefruit is a cross between a pummelo External link and a sweet orange External link. Grapefruit