Celebrating its 125th year in the banana industry, Dole Food Company is hosting the first-ever Dole Great American Banana Challenge on August 24 as part of the Great American Banana Split Celebration, which will take place from August 24 to 25, 2024, in Latrobe, PA.

Dole has committed to sponsoring this annual event until 2027. The Banana Challenge rules state that participants who can peel and eat the most DOLE Bananas within 125 seconds on the Robindale Main Stage will be awarded the inaugural Dole Banana Challenge Belt.

The Great American Banana Split Celebration commemorates the creation of the banana split in 1904 at Latrobe's Tassel's Pharmacy. Since 2013, when the Pennsylvania Historical Society placed a marker at the downtown Latrobe site where the banana split was born, the event has been a popular destination for banana and dessert enthusiasts.

Dole played a significant role in organizing the first Banana Split Celebration 11 years ago, coinciding with the designation of August 25 as National Banana Split Day. The company sent a team of employees and Bobby Banana, their seven-foot mascot promoting healthy eating, to the event.