DOLE bananas again prominent at Banana Split Celebration and banana-eating challenge
DOLE bananas again prominent at Banana Split Celebration and banana-eating challenge
Dole Food Co. is once again representing the signature fruit at the center of the Great American Banana Split Celebration, the annual three-day celebration in Latrobe, PA, marking the invention of the iconic dessert by a local drugstore soda jerk in 1904.
Dole renewed its sponsorship of this year’s celebration, scheduled for Aug. 22-24, 2025, as well as the 2nd annual Dole Great American Banana Challenge which the produce leader initiated last year in honor of its 125th Banana-Versary.
According to Banana Challenge rules, the banana fan who peels and eats the most DOLE bananas at 2 p.m. on Aug. 23 on the event’s Robindale Main Stage will receive the Dole Banana Challenge Championship Belt, created by Wildcat Championship Belts, Dole and event organizers exclusively for the competition. Last year, Leo Sun of host city Latrobe took home the first-ever belt after eating 11 bananas in 125 seconds.
The Great American Banana Split Celebration has been an annual destination for banana and dessert fans since 2013 when the Pennsylvania Historical Society unveiled a marker at the downtown Latrobe site where the banana split was invented. Dole helped organize the inaugural celebration in conjunction with Aug. 25’s designation as National Banana Split Day, and sent Bobby Banana, the company’s 7-foot mascot and healthy-eating ambassador as representative.
This year, in addition to serving as an unofficial Banana Challenge judge and all- around banana enthusiast, Bobby will again attend the Aug. 22 Yellow Tie Gala at the Latrobe Art Center and cheer-on participants in the annual 5K Banana Run Aug. 23 at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.
“Dole is proud to be able to sponsor this increasingly popular celebration – and prouder still that DOLE Bananas will be featured in splits served at the Great American Banana Split Celebration,” said William Goldfield, Dole’s director of communications. “We’ve had fun over the years challenging public perceptions of a banana split by introducing great-tasting new versions that add fresh berries, pineapple, banana ice cream, Greek yogurt, pomegranate seeds and other healthier alternatives to the traditional split.”
Banana split lovers wanting to celebrate with a more wholesome version of the famous dessert are directed to Dole’s Berry Banana Splitz, Honey Pomegranate Banana Split and True Original Mickey Mouse Chocolate-Banana Splitrecipes, and to a how-to blog post by Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Dole’s health, wellness and communications manager.
