About Us
About Us
Celebrating 100 Years | 1926–2026
About Pittman & Davis
Pittman & Davis is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Founded in 1926 in Harlingen, Texas, we have spent a century shipping tree-ripened citrus and gourmet food gifts to doorsteps across the country. We remain a family-owned company built on the same promise: send only the best, and make every gift worth remembering.
Shop Citrus GiftsHow Pittman & Davis Began
In the 1920s, Frank Davis Sr. and his wife, Kitty, were raising two children in Missouri. Their eight-year-old daughter, Jane, suffered from severe allergies, and the family doctor advised a move south to the warm, mild climate of South Texas.
Frank had spent 14 years with a large mail order company, selling household goods to rural families in the early days of the business. He traveled alone by train to see what South Texas might offer and stopped in Harlingen, just miles from the Mexican border.
There, he was introduced to H. Pittman, a local grower whose prize-winning citrus he had long hoped to sell by mail. Frank knew mail order. Pittman knew citrus. In 1926 they joined forces, and families across America soon discovered the fruit of the Rio Grande Valley.
Grown and Packed with Care
Our signature Rio Ruby™ Red Grapefruit is particular about where it grows. It needs rich soil, abundant sunshine, and mild winters, and the Texas Rio Grande Valley offers all three. We leave our grapefruit on the tree until it reaches full ripeness, because citrus does not continue to sweeten once it is picked.
After harvest, each piece of fruit is hand-selected for size, color, and quality, then carefully packed and shipped fresh to you or your recipient. Only fruit that meets our standards ships under the Pittman & Davis name. With packing houses in the Texas Rio Grande Valley and Florida’s Indian River region, we work close to the groves to ensure every box arrives at its best.
More Than Citrus
Alongside our signature grapefruit, we ship Comice pears and crisp apples from the Pacific Northwest, plus gourmet gifts including naturally smoked meats, fine cheeses, and pastries baked in small batches. From holiday fruit baskets to gifts for clients and colleagues, every Pittman & Davis selection is prepared with the same attention to quality that started it all.
Shop Best SellersThe Pittman & Davis Guarantee
We stand behind every gift we ship. If you or your recipient are not completely satisfied, contact us and we will make it right.