Dole Food Company Marks 10 Years of the Banana Split Celebration; Bil Goldfield Details
LATROBE, PA - It’s hard to believe how quickly time flies by sometimes, but Dole Food Company is viewing this year in particular as a milestone moment. The company is celebrating 10 years since the inaugural Great American Banana Split Celebration, and it’s going back to where it all began: Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
“Dole was proud to be part of the inaugural event in 2013 christening Latrobe’s official role in banana history,” said Bil Goldfield, Dole’s Director of Corporate Communications. “As you can imagine, we were especially honored to be part of the 10th anniversary festivities and delighted to see that the Great American Banana Split Celebration, and the dessert itself, are alive and well!”
In 2013, the Pennsylvania Historical Society unveiled a marker at the former site of Tassel’s Pharmacy, where 23-year-old David Sticker invented the banana split in 1904. Over 100 years later, that dessert is still a classic and a delight on every table.
The celebration took place from August 24 to 28 and honored the globally famous banana-based sundae. Bobby Banana returned to where it all began 10 years later to help Latrobe mark a decade of banana-themed festivities that now span four days of live music on multiple stages, dancing, craftsmaking, face painting, cornhole tournaments, candy bar bingo, and pie- and banana split-eating contests.
As noted in the release, Dole sponsored this year’s Great American Banana Split Celebration Climbing Wall, where Bobby posed for pictures and cheered on banana-powered climbers throughout the event.
2023 has seen a noticeable resurgence of Bobby Banana in Dole’s marketing and community efforts, including appearances by the giant fruit on National Banana Day in April, on Dole’s web and social pages, and throughout a fall initiative and partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Charlotte to encourage parents and kids to adopt a healthier back-to-school routine.
Banana lovers can go to “Back to School with Bobby Banana” through September 15 to download a “bunch” of free assets and activities. Shoppers will also find a set of seven collectible DOLE® Banana stickers and DOLE® Pineapple tags, featuring the iconic Bobby Banana and Pinellopy Pineapple on tens of millions of pieces of freshly harvested Dole fruits in the produce section of supermarkets across North America through the end of September.
Cheers to 10 years!
