CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dole Food Company’s latest marketing campaigns have been going bananas.

In honor of National Banana Day April 19, the company created a calendar of 30 unexpected uses for bananas for consumers to try each day this month.

“We all know that bananas are packed with nutrients, but even the peel contains various bioactive compounds, rich phenolics and anti-inflammatory properties that can fertilize the garden, ripen other produce, soothe a hangover and more,” said Melanie Marcus, Dole’s nutrition and health communications manager. “At the end of the day, I like to say that bananas are the hardest-working produce in the produce department.”

collage of people using bananas in a variety of waysSource: Dole Food Company

 

Dole’s banana calendar for April 2023:

  • April 1 – Learn how to tattoo. Tattoo artists are known to practice their skills on a banana. (No, this is not April Fools.) (Source)
  • April 2 – Polish leather shoes. (Source)
  • April 3 – Restore luster to silver jewelry. (Source)
  • April 4 – Make a fertilizer tea to nourish the garden. (Source)
  • April 5 – Take as a tastier, less-expensive daily multi-vitamin. (Source)
  • April 6 – Make sushi. (Recipe Link)
  • April 7 – Reduce nausea and morning sickness. (Source)
  • April 8 – Brighten up houseplants. (Source)
  • April 9 – Make banana iced coffee for your Easter morning! (Recipe Link)
  • April 10 – Erase ink stains from your skin. (Source)
  • April 11 – Get you moving. (Bananas are a natural laxative.) (Source)
  • April 12 – Make vinegar. (Source)
  • April 13 – Boost brain power. (Source)
  • April 14 – Remove a splinter. (Source)
  • April 15 – Attract birds and butterflies. (Source)
  • April 16 – Throw on the grill unpeeled for a naturally sweet dessert. (Recipe Link)
  • April 17 – Ripen other fruit. (Source)
  • April 18 – Grow a banana tree. (Only possible with certain varieties.) (Source)
  • April 19 – Happy National Banana Day! Celebrate the best day of the year.
  • April 20 – Tenderize a roast. (Source)
  • April 21 – Burn as firewood to keep warm.(Source)
  • April 22 ­– Eat the peel (and love it) to practice Earth Day sustainability. (Recipe Link)
  • April 23 – Blend up the original Dole Whip of Disney parks fame. (Recipe Link)
  • April 24 – Moisturize your face (Source)
  • April 25 – Soothe a hangover with nature’s Vitamin B6-rich hangover cure. (Source)
  • April 26 – Make your own energy bars. (Recipe Link)
  • April 27 – Honor Elvis Presley by making his favorite peanut butter and banana sandwich. (Source)
  • April 28 – Replace nicotine gum or a patch to stop smoking. (Source)
  • April 29 – Heal minor ailments and accelerate skin regeneration. (Source)
  • April 30 – Make baby food. (Recipe Link) 

Dole’s search for a banana unicorn

Also on National Banana Day April 19, Dole launched a search to find someone who has never tried a banana before. 

Dole is calling this rare type of person a banana unicorn, and the company is asking any and all banana unicorns to share stories, photos and videos from their banana-free lives.

“If you’ve resisted trying a banana up until now for non-health reasons, or even tasted one once and didn’t like it, we want to hear your story,” said Rachel Young, Dole’s manager of digital marketing and communications. “We’re convinced that Dole has a banana smoothie, snack, salad, sandwich, side dish, entrée or dessert recipe that will change your status from banana unicorn to banana regular.”

“If a banana unicorn does exist, we want their first banana experience to be Dole,” she said.

According to Dole, banana unicorns with the most convincing cases will be awarded a year’s worth of bananas along with a collection of the company’s banana recipes.

“Winning banana unicorns have the option of transferring the prize, valued at more than $100, to a banana lover in their lives or joining the masses that love the beloved fruit,” the company said.