CHARLOTTE, NC - In honor of the many anniversaries to come, Dole Food Company is using its 125th year to spread the love of bananas to newlyweds. The supplier has launched an exclusive wedding reception menu for couples who are particularly fond of the yellow fruit.
![Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, Nutrition, Wellness, and Communications Manager, Dole Food Company](https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/headshots/melanie_marcus_headshot2022.jpg?1jdhiMUY6uRbhRH2x7MoS8v8MMRmF3Hb)
“I’d say Dole’s banana quasquicentennial gave us the license to go a little crazy—or should I say bananas?—to prove how far the world’s most-purchased fruit has come from a culinary standpoint,” said Melanie Marcus, Manager of Nutrition, Wellness, and Communications. “Now, for banana lovers in love, the fruit you peeled and ate as a kid for breakfast and lunch has been reimagined and served elegantly baked, grilled, and pureed on your wedding day.”
Just in time for the traditional June start of wedding season, Dole’s “Ultimate Banana Wedding Reception Menu” is the first in a series of five banana-themed special event spreads. According to a press release, it was developed in honor of Dole’s 125th Banana-Versary. Dole even created its own elegant, banana-themed wedding reception menu cards for the occasion.
![](https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/thumbnails/dole-banana-peanut-butter-chocolate-and-coconut-truffles-1-600.png?VersionId=MWxV0GiwuDvOUdE1v04OZX8WXXLLIrw_&_gl=1*13c0xxz*_ga*ODk0MTg0Nzg5LjE2MDIxNzU1MzU.*_ga_R0EZCSFLW2*MTcxODgxMTIyMy41MDIuMS4xNzE4ODE0MDE0LjAuMC4w)
Dole’s “Ultimate Banana Wedding Reception Menu” consists of the following six recipes created by Marcus and her recipe-development team:
- Banana Blini and Beet Canapes (Vegetarian and Gluten-Free)
- Banana Coconut Soup (Vegetarian)
- Plantain Gnocchi with Citrus Banana & Sage Butter
- White Fish with Banana Salsa
- Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles (Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free, and Low-Sodium)
- Bananas Foster Trifles with Date Caramel (Vegetarian)
![](https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/thumbnails/dole_white_fish_with_banana_salsa-37-600.png?VersionId=2M1Lhk.4scMeSzzzaxJqMZPIdHqTZbpN&_gl=1*13c0xxz*_ga*ODk0MTg0Nzg5LjE2MDIxNzU1MzU.*_ga_R0EZCSFLW2*MTcxODgxMTIyMy41MDIuMS4xNzE4ODE0MDE0LjAuMC4w)
A series of new event-specific Dole Ultimate Banana Celebration Menus will be issued monthly through October. Future menus will be themed to outdoor grilling parties, kids’ birthdays, tailgates, and cocktail parties.
Throughout 2024, the commemoration rolls on with contests, charity engagements, city proclamations, social activations, Bobby Banana appearances, recipes, employee events, and free digital downloads and giveaways across the county. Shoppers can also find collectible Dole 125th Banana-Versary stickers on millions of DOLE® bananas across the United States and Canada.
For more category-specific news, you know where to find us.