The Whiting-based Mascot Hall of Fame recently unveiled a display featuring Bobby Banana.
The 7-foot Dole Food Co. mascot was created in 1992 to promote healthy living. The three-month-long Bobby Banana display coincides with Dole’s 125th Banana-Versary.
“Once we heard about this year’s Dole Banana-Versary, we knew the time was ripe to tell the Bobby Banana story,” said Karen Anaszewicz, the museum’s executive director, in a press release.
Dole’s mascot is featured in the museum’s Department of Mascot Studies Gallery. The exhibit chronicles the inception and growth of the sneakers-wearing Cavendish banana. Cavendish bananas are the most common bananas at grocery stores.
“While the focus of the National Mascot Hall of Fame has traditionally been on college and professional sports mascots, we can’t help but admire the work of corporate icons like Dole’s Bobby Banana who have helped electrify and inspire progress toward a better, healthier and more equitable world,” said Anaszewicz.
Bil Goldfield, Dole’s director of corporate communications, helped develop the exhibit.
“We’ve had many dialogues with the National Mascot Hall of Fame over the years, so to finally see the display christened and welcoming guests is a major thrill – for me, Bobby and everyone at Dole,” Goldfield said. “This day instantly becomes a highlight of our Banana-Versary.”
The Banana-Versary celebrates Dole’s 125 years in the business and will feature activities through this year.
The Mascot Hall of Fame is a physical and online museum. It honors sports and collegiate mascots. The museum recently announced it will be permanently closing on Sept. 14.
Dole plc is among the world’s largest producers and distributors of fruit and vegetables. James Dole began growing pineapples in Oahu in 1901. The company expanded into bananas after purchasing the Standard Fruit and Steamship Co. in 1964.
(Photo provided by the Mascot Hall of Fame)
