Almost everyone eats bananas, but Dole Food Co. is seeking “banana unicorns” — those few shoppers who have yet to try the yellow fruit.
Starting April 19, Dole is asking self-proclaimed non-banana eaters to share their "life-without-bananas" stories, photos and videos on its Facebook and Instagram pages. Those can include the reasons for their “life-long banana aloofness, close calls with the yellow fruit, and banana unicorn-proving testimony from supportive friends and family,” according to a news release.
The release said Dole will award a year of free Dole bananas and an assortment of the most popular banana recipes from its online recipe library to those posting the most convincing cases of how and why they have elected a banana-free life.
The 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 enjoy the beloved fruit, the release said.
"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," Rachel Young, Dole's manager of digital marketing and communications, said in the release. "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.”
Dole will support the program with a dedicated social media campaign as part of a larger, month-long tribute to National Banana Day, according to the release.