Dole Stakes Its Claim On National Banana Bread Day

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — The world’s largest banana provider is challenging Americans to submit their best banana bread recipes in a nationwide virtual baking event and social media party commemorating National Banana Bread Day on Thursday, Feb. 23.

As part of its year-long Go Bananas Every Day™ initiative, which offers 366 unique reasons to make bananas part of a daily routine, DOLE® Bananas is calling on bread and banana lovers nationwide to submit their banana bread recipes in honor of the holiday. The celebration is similar to Dole’s observance of National Banana Spilt Day last Aug.25 when the banana leader hosted a series of virtual events to encourage the creation of banana splits under 350 calories. That event has since become an annual Dole tradition.

On Feb. 23 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET (12 p.m. to 1 p.m. PT), foodies and banana fans alike are encouraged to Tweet @DOLEBananas using the hashtag #BananaBread with creative blog posts, recipes, photos and ideas for the perfect loaf of banana bread. Dole’s banana-specific Facebook page, www.facebook.com/DOLEBananas, will also be part of the celebration.

Once again, Dole is partnering with the noted “food porn” site Tastespotting (http://www.tastespotting.com) to rally the food-blogging community to create and submit banana bread recipes and participate in the virtual baking event. Tastespotting, regarded as one of the top foodie websites by a multitude of food bloggers, will be posting banana bread photos only from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. PT). To be eligible for submission to Tastespotting, all recipes must include at least one DOLE® Banana.

Beyond loaves of banana bread, participants are welcome to submit original recipes for other baked banana treats, including muffins, cake, coffeecake, cupcakes or biscotti.

For inspiration, Dole has created a host of its own banana bread creations as part of its “Go Bananas” online recipe library at http://www.dole.com/bananas/Recipes.aspx. These range from Dole Classic Banana Bread and Banana Nut Bundt Cake to Banana Biscotti, Banana Pumpkin Muffins and Banana Pineapple Oatmeal Breakfast Cake. DOLE Bananas will share these and other banana bread recipes Thursday to kick off the National Banana Bread Day Tweet Up.

Tastespotting will also be posting an original banana bread recipe for the day.

National Banana Bread Day Virtual Baking Event
· Thursday, February 23, 2012
· 3 p.m.-4 p.m. ET (12 p.m.-1 p.m. PT)
· Twitter: @DOLEBananas / Hashtag: #BananaSplit
· Facebook: www.facebook.com/DOLEBananas

National Banana Bread Day Recipe Postings on Tastespotting.com
· Thursday, February 23, 2012
· 3 p.m.-8 p.m. ET (12 p.m.-5 p.m. PT)
· www.tastespotting.com

About DOLE Bananas

DOLE is the top-selling banana in America and the world – in both conventional and organic product categories. From its founding by James Drummond Dole, the company has built its reputation on a ceaseless commitment to quality. Today, the DOLE brand stands for more than 150 years of quality produce — and the world’s largest supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables, including bananas. Dole strives to grow, produce, harvest, transport and distribute its bananas and other produce in the most environmentally and socially conscious way possible. For more information, go to www.dole.com/bananas.

About Dole Food Company, Inc.

Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, visit www.dole.com.

Source: Dole Food Company, Inc.