The world’s largest fruit display is simply bananas! The banana display was awarded a world record last Tuesday. Created by Fresh Del Monte and Jewel-Osco, the display took over three days to set up. When all was said and done, the potassium-packed mound contained over 200,000 bananas on display.
Constructed entirely of bananas, the display measured 188 feet wide and 11 feet tall, weighing 77,365.9 pounds.
Pablo Rivero, Fresh Del Monte’s Vice President of Marketing said, “What better way to communicate the global popularity and nutritional value of bananas than with a world record-worthy display and local food bank donation?”
Bananas are a top-selling item for Jewel-Osco; whose stores sell over 140,000 pounds of bananas per day. After the display was deemed a world record by the Guinness inspector, bananas were given away to customers and donated to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, which supplies food to hungry families in 13 counties.
“We hope this donation not only benefits those facing food insecurity but encourages increased consumption of fresh fruits,” said Rivera.
Guinness World Records contain some of the weirdest and wackiest world records. Companies and individuals have been competing for record-breaking acts of awe and oddities since 1955. The previous record was set in January of this year and included a citrus display by Rouses Markets and Sunkist Growers. That display included over 100,000 oranges, grapefruits, lemons and tangelos.
Editor’s Take:
Congratulations to all involved in obtaining a new Guinness World Record for the largest fruit display. Say what you will, it’s not a small undertaking to create such a monster display and then have it certified as a record breaker. Yours truly knows about this topic first-hand. During the Michigan Sesquicentennial many moons ago, we set out to create a Guinness record for the world’s largest cherry pie. With the help and support of several growers and processors, the journey began. Creating the pie pan for this multi-ton monster and the oven to bake it was an engineering feat by itself. Then figuring out how to serve it to several thousand people was another logistical accomplishment. But when it was all said and done – we did it! That’s why I can reassure you – receiving a Guinness record for the largest fruit display was no small matter. Congratulations to Fresh Del Monte and Jewel-Osco!
