Dole Will Broaden 'Peel The Love' Healthy-Eating Initiative In 2014

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.  — Dole’s “Peel the Love” campaign was such a hit this year that the produce giant has announced that it will make fruits and vegetables even more fun in 2014.

Launched in January, the year-long Peel the Love effort celebrated the fun and whimsy of bananas and pineapples with innovative new recipes, retailer partnerships and a summer-long tour of banana-loving cities nationwide. In all, the pink-and-turquoise Peel the Love food truck handed out 107,703 recipe samples made from more than 15,336 DOLE® Bananas at 147 tour stops at supermarkets, special events and other local venues. 

Despite the impressive numbers, consumers and retailers wanted more. So beyond extending this year’s tour a month past its originally scheduled Labor Day finale, Dole is bringing back an expanded Peel the Love effort in 2014 featuring more recipes, retailer partners and tour stops designed to bring its eating-healthy-can-be-fun message to more of America.

“Since everyone knows how healthy bananas are, the goal of Peel the Love was to reacquaint consumers and retailers with all the fun aspects of bananas and Dole’s other fruits and vegetables through compelling new recipes, unexpected serving suggestions and free giveaways,” explained Bil Goldfield, communications director of Dole Fresh Fruit. “The response was fantastic and so, due to popular demand, we’ll be taking our message to even more of the country in 2014.”

“It’s clear from the response that Americans are ready to embrace their bananas and other fruits and vegetables in new ways – and, as the world’s top provider of fresh produce, we’re only too happy to oblige.”

Once again, Dole will host a year-long celebration dedicated to the fun, irreverence and universally beloved aspects of the iconic yellow fruit. Elements of Peel the Love 2014 will include new recipes, serving, pairing and entertaining suggestions, social media programs and an expanded tour that will stop at supermarkets, special events and public venues in cities across the country.

Dole will also continue to educate registered dieticians (RDs), supermarket nutritionists, food bloggers and other influentials about the health, taste and convenience advantages of bananas through media appearances, tastings and educational summits.

Banana lovers can learn more about Peel the Love at www.dole.com/peelthelove.  A full tour schedule will be posted in the spring.

For more information on DOLE Bananas, including recipes, serving suggestions and other information, go to http://www.dole.com/Products/Fresh-Fruits/Bananas or  http://www.dole.com/Bananas, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter at www.facebook.com/DOLEBananas or www.twitter.com/DOLEBananas, respectively.

About DOLE Bananas

DOLE is the top-selling banana in North America — in both conventional and organic product categories. Since its establishment, Dole has built its reputation on a ceaseless commitment to quality. Today, the DOLE brand stands for more than 100 years of quality produce — and one of the world’s largest suppliers 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 information, go to http://www.dole.com/Products/Fresh-Fruits/Bananas

About Dole Food Company, Inc.

Dole Food Company with 2012 revenues from continuing operations of $4.2 billion, is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com or http://investors.dole.com

Source: Dole Food Company, Inc.