CHARLOTTE, NC - Which team will you be on for this year’s NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament? I’m not talking about the basketball players, but the hottest recipes from Dole Food Company. The supplier is hosting Dole Fruit and Veg Tournament Brackets, in which eight enticing recipes will compete throughout the tournament.

“Since nearly every fruit and vegetable has a corresponding beloved recipe, we thought it would be fun to pit these iconic Dole dishes against each other to see which scores the most points with fans,” said Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Nutrition and Health Communications Manager. “It’s part of our Healthier by Dole series designed to show that a produce-rich diet can be tasty, accessible, and a regular part of everyday and special celebrations.”

Dole social media followers will decide the winners of three rounds of head-to-head matchups between widely popular dishes made with eight of the company’s best-selling fruits and vegetables.

According to a press release, the eight competing recipes are among some of the most downloaded dishes in Dole’s online recipe library. Participants can vote for their favorites and check results on Dole’s Facebook and Instagram pages from March 13–April 2, 2023. The dish receiving the most votes in the final competition during the week of March 27 will be crowned Produce Recipe Champion.

The recipes include:

• Tangy Cran Apple Crisp
• Spicy Habanero Pineapple Guacamole
• Loaded Banana Bread
• Little Boo Brussels Sprouts Bites
• Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
• Grilled Pineapple Fries with Avocado-Sriracha Dip
• Southwest Caesar Chicken Salad
• Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

“Of course, the only way to know for sure which fruit or vegetable dish is best is to prepare all eight, invite your friends, and make it a watch party,” Marcus added. “And no one has to know they’re healthy.”

Stay tuned as we continue to cover the latest promotions in fresh produce.

Dole Food Company