CHARLOTTE, NC - The road to changing consumer behavior and centering it on fresh might be long, but providers like Dole Food Company are working tirelessly to do so! One of the best ways to empower communities is by getting them excited about produce, and who isn’t excited about banana bread?

Partnering with the Community Culinary School of Charlotte (CCSC), Dole is hosting a bake-off to determine who has the best banana bread in North Carolina.

“Dole is honored to help support the next generation of local bakers, cooks, and chefs—and remind these future culinary stars that the best recipes can be delicious and healthy at the same time,” said Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, and Dole’s Nutrition and Health Communications Manager. “The enthusiasm, creativity, and passion displayed by these students makes all of us at Dole very excited about the future of Charlotte’s restaurant and food service scene. Chef Ron and his team at CCSC are a great asset to the community.”

This friendly competition is part of a larger collaboration between the two organizations to develop healthy, produce-forward, cooking and lifestyle habits and provide the training to allow more local residents to gain access to Charlotte’s growing culinary and foodservice sector.

Dole is putting its own hat in the ring with its Loaded Banana Bread, made with DOLE^® bananas, eggs, almond milk yogurt, and crushed pecans. There is also the student-created CCSC Class #73 Banana Bread featuring DOLE Bananas, avocado oil, maple syrup, and sweet potato.

For those wanting to know more about CCSC, this association provides culinary training to those impacted by homelessness, poverty, abuse, and other issues, a press release explained, as well as to veterans and others transitioning into civilian life.

Cheers to inspiring folks to cook!

Dole Food Company