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In Celebration of 125 Years in Bananas Dole Announces First Inductees of its Banana Hall of Fame


 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Bob Ochsner
Sophia's Choice for Dole
949-233-0984

 

In Celebration of 125 Years in Bananas
Dole Announces First Inductees of
its Banana Hall of Fame

Brennan's New Orleans, City of Latrobe, PA,
and healthy-living icon Bobby Banana are honored for contributing
to the lore, legacy and global appear of the iconic yellow fruit

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 29, 2024) —  Dole Food Company, is honoring a beloved New Orleans restaurant, a pioneering Pennsylvania city and a 7-foot banana mascot for helping to make the banana into the world’s most popular fruit and a global icon.

As part of the Dole 125th Banana-versary (dole.com/125), a year-long celebration of its 125 years in the banana business, the produce leader has established the Dole Banana Hall of Fame and announced the three inaugural inductees for ongoing contributions to the lore, legacy and global appeal of the quintessential yellow fruit.

According to William Goldfield, Dole’s communications director, the Dole Hall of Fame was created to honor those culinary and cultural institutions that have played a pivotal role in making the banana a universal symbol for simple nutrition, goodness, flavor and fun. “All of us at Dole are well aware that we could never have made it to our banana quasquicentennial – our 125th year of growing and marketing bananas – without the help of other banana ambassadors with a similar passion for the fruit,” he said. “This Hall of Fame is for them.”

The first three inductees into the Dole Banana Hall of Fame are Brennan’s, the New Orleans French Quarter restaurant that created the world-famous Bananas Foster dessert; the City of Latrobe, Pa., birthplace of the Banana Split and home of the annual Great American Banana Split Festival; and Bobby Banana, the 7-foot banana mascot of Dole Food Company who has been making healthy eating and living fun for kids for close to 40 years.

“We are very proud of Bananas Foster, a deep tradition that has been a part of our family’s restaurant, Brennan’s New Orleans, for over 70 years. It is wonderful to see families – from children to adults – enjoying the theatrical creation, presented at the dining table, which never gets old,” said Ralph Brennan, third-generation proprietor of Brennan’s New Orleans.  

"Being inducted into the Dole Banana Hall of Fame is a sweet honor that truly appeals to the core of our community's spirit,” said Briana Tomack, president and CEO of the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. “This recognition not only celebrates the iconic banana split but also highlights Latrobe's rich history and ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant culture in our city. We are proud to share this delightful moment with banana split enthusiasts far and wide!"

Dole proudly honors each inductee’s unique banana contribution:   

Dole will announce additional Dole Banana Hall of Fame inductees throughout 2024. Banana lovers can nominate their own favorite banana icons – from people and places; to banana dishes, drinks and desserts; to bananas in film, TV, music and popular culture – by using the hashtag #DoleBananaVersary on any Dole social media page.

The Dole 125th Banana-versry continues throughout 2024 with in-store messaging, contests, partnerships, proclamations, recipes and appearances by Bobby Banana. A special highlight is “125 Ways to Be Bananas,” part of a web and social media series of banana hacks, tips and recipes, digital downloads, engagement opportunities and ways to share banana memories.

For continually refreshed and updated information on the Dole 125th Banana-versary, go to dole.com/125. Use hashtags #DoleBananaVersary, #DoleBananas125, #BananasForTheFuture, #BananaVersary and #Fresh4Future to join in on the conversation.          

                               

About Dole plc

Dole plc, is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

 

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