Some years ago, while driving with my granddaughters – Eve and Elin – I heard them both exclaim “Juicy Fruit!” And they giggled. I thought nothing of it until a few minutes later when I heard “Juicy Fruit” again. I considered pulling into the next gas station to pick up a few packs of chewing gum but I thought — they’re too young to chew gum. So I drove on. I think it was the third “Juicy Fruit” that caused me to smilingly ask – “why do you keep saying ‘Juicy Fruit‘”? To which they responded that whenever they see a yellow car – they say . . . . you know. . . . .

Since then, I’ve become a “Juicy Fruit” guy — even when I’m alone in the car (yeah, I know. . . .). I’ve been known (when at least one granddaughter is in the car) to say “blueberry pie” [all blue car], “strawberry shortcake” [all red car], and my favorite “key lime pie” [all green car].

In April 1891, when William Wrigley began doing business, he sold scouring soap. To entice people to buy the soap, he would attach a small envelope of baking powder. As people seemed to prefer baking powder, in 1892 he added a few sticks of chewing gum to baking powder packages. And people began clamoring for the chewing gum which was even more popular. The original (grayish) label of Juicy Fruit gum was replaced after World War II with a bright yellow label. And the rest is history. Juicy Fruit even has its own Facebook page with over a million followers (see https://www.facebook.com/juicyfruit).

My granddaughters continue to spout “Juicy Fruit” when they see a yellow car — as do I. And that includes other yellow vehicles as well. When we pass the school bus parking lot I’m goin’ “Juicy Fruit, Juicy Fruit, Juicy Fr. . . . . . .