Los Angeles, CA -- Bob Hope was not only a friend to U.S. soldiers, he was also good to grapefruit.

In fact, former grapefruit public relations executive Leo Pearlstein credits Hope with making America sweet on the citrus fruit back in the mid-1960s.

Pearlstein -- who served on the California Desert Grapefruit Advisory Board until the 1970s -- says sales heated up when Hope let the world know he was sweet on grapefruit by doing appearances on TV shows and in magazine ads promoting the fruit.

Hope was a funnyman, but he took his grapefruit seriously, personally approving every grapefruit recipe his name was attached to.

Hope's PR work in the 1960s has had a lasting impression too. Pearlstein figures the comedian's support of grapefruit is why it's a popular flavor for candy and soda today.

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