Robert Gregory, age 8, of Riverside, Calif., for his question:

WHY DO WE CALL IT A GRAPEFRUIT?

We call the large citrus fruit "grapefruit" because of the way it grows: in clusters that look very much like grapes. Outside of the name, there isn't too much to unite the grape and the grapefruit.

The grapefruit is closely related to the shaddock tree of southeastern Asia, although its skin is much thinner. It didn't arrive in the United States until 1820. That year a planter introduced the tree into Florida from the West Indies where it may have originated back in the early 1700s. Its fruit was not sold on th American market until about 1880.

Today, the United States raises about two thirds of the world grapefruit production. Other leading producing countries include Argentina, China, Cyprus, Israel and South Africa.

Florida produces about three fourths of the United States crop with Arizona, California and Texas coming up with the final fourth.

At picking time, grapefruit must be picked by hand and handled carefully to prevent bruising.