Dole Peel the Love 2014

Dole officially arrived in Dallas and New York City this week for the start of two simultaneous nationwide Peel the Love Banana Cabana Tours designed to encourage banana fans in the US to 'Peel the Love' and discover the fun of healthy summer eating.

Organised by Dole Bananas and co-sponsored by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk, the two caravans are stopping at supermarkets, special events and other local venues to reacquaint Americans with the 'fun, whimsy and versatility' of bananas.

The tours are also designed to offer compelling new ways to add fresh produce to summer meals, snacking, parties and entertaining plans.

Dole and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze are launching two simultaneous tours this year at the request of retailers and consumers who participated in Dole’s nationwide Peel the Love Tour in 2013. By hitting the road on two separate tours covering the Eastern and Western portions of the US, Dole will be able to visit banana fans in 26 cities in 21 states over 104 days.

“We’re excited to take the expanded 2014 Tour out on the road to even more banana fans this year,” said Bil Goldfield, Dole Fresh Fruit Company’s director of corporate communications. “From new recipes and serving suggestions to free samples and giveaways, we’re doubling the love and bringing our ‘healthy-eating-can-be-fun’ message to supermarkets and public events all across the country this summer.”

The Eastern Tour departs from New York City and visits New Jersey; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Virginia; Raleigh, N.C.; Columbia, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Alabama; Mississippi; St. Louis; Des Moines, Iowa; and Minneapolis.

The Western Tour leaves Dallas and visits Houston; San Antonio; Salt Lake City; Phoenix; San Diego; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Sacramento, Calif.; Reno, Nev.; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle.

Both Tours feature sampling of a new batch of Peel the Love salad, sandwich, entrée, snack and dessert recipes designed by the Dole Test Kitchens to showcase the taste, versatility, nutrition and convenience of Dole bananas, pineapple and other fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Tours are part of Dole Bananas Peel the Love, a multiyear initiative to remind UC consumers about the fun and nutritional significance of the world’s most popular fruit, and encourage greater consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables overall.