In honor of its 125th Banana-Versary, marking 125 years in the banana business, Dole Food Co. says it will host the inaugural Dole Great American Banana Challenge on Aug. 24.
The event will occur during the Great American Banana Split Celebration, Aug. 24-25 in Latrobe, Pa. Dole has agreed to sponsor the annual Challenge through 2027, according to a news release.
According to the banana challenge’s rules, the banana fan who peels and eats the most Dole Bananas in 125 seconds on the event’s Robindale Main Stage will receive the inaugural Dole Banana Challenge Belt, designed and produced by Andrew Lazarchik, founder and owner of Wildcat Championship Belts, the release said. Wildcat produces the championship belts for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, the Pepsi/NFL Player of the Week and the WWE.
Banana fans can officially register for the Dole Great American Banana Challenge through an online form.
The Great American Banana Split Celebration honors the 1904 invention of the banana split at Latrobe’s Tassel’s Pharmacy and has been a regular destination for banana and dessert fans since 2013 when the Pennsylvania Historical Society unveiled a marker at the downtown Latrobe site where it all began, according to the release.
Dole said it helped organize the first Banana Split Celebration 11 years ago, in conjunction with Aug. 25’s designation as National Banana Split Day, and sent a team of employees and Bobby Banana, the company’s 7-foot iconic mascot and healthy-eating ambassador. This year, in addition to serving as an unofficial Dole Banana Challenge judge, Bobby Banana will cheer-on participants in the annual 5K Banana Run Aug. 24 at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.
“Dole is proud that our bananas have provided the foundation for countless classic and new-twist banana split recipes for years at Latrobe’s Banana Split Celebration – and prouder still to have introduced several great-tasting versions made better with berries, pineapple and other fresh fruit to the mix,” William Goldfield, the company’s director of communications, said in the release. “So, when we had the chance to help create a new, more nutrient-dense version of the quintessentially American eating contest that doesn’t sacrifice the fun, we were eager to participate.”
Those wanting a healthier version of the famous dessert are directed to Dole’s Berry Banana Splitz and Honey Pomegranate Banana Split recipes, and to a new, how-to blog post by Melanie Marcus, Dole’s health, wellness and communications manager, the release said.
The Dole 125th Banana-Versary 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.
Related links:
