Chiquita Goes Bananas at 43[rd] Annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Global banana brand highlights the fun side of fitness and healthy snacking with a no-waste twist
Fort Lauderdale, FL – October 6, 2021 – For the first time ever, Chiquita is joining forces with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and donating more than 60,000 delicious yellow bananas to fuel runners during their marathon journey and help them recover after they cross the finish line. To ensure the discarded banana peels don’t go to waste, leftover food scraps will be collected in organic waste bins and taken to a compost facility to be broken down into nutrient-rich soil, which will be donated to community gardens throughout the Chicago area. Leftover bananas will also be donated to Chicago’s largest food bank - the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the six major marathons in the world, welcoming thousands of participants from across the country and around the world. The race’s iconic course takes runners through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural tour of Chicago. To reward participants once they finish the race, Chiquita’s iconic banana man will be present at the Runner Refreshment area to congratulate runners and hand out tasty bananas, which are a perfect post-workout snack.
“We’re proud to be teaming up with Chiquita to provide runners with tasty bananas, which have long been known to boost energy pre-race and help the body recover post-run,” said Carey Pinkowski, Executive Race Director of Bank of America Chicago Marathon. “We are also grateful that this partnership will allow for invaluable food donations and composting action which will help to support our local Chicago area.”
Chiquita bananas are heart protective, rich in essential vitamins and minerals like potassium – important in building lean muscle – and low in sodium. They also provide a natural sugar, fructose, and a generous helping of fiber that’s slowly digested and absorbed to prevent sugar spikes, which explains why bananas are a great snack for athletes and runners.
“At Chiquita, we’re excited to fuel the runners at this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon with our nutritious yellow bananas,” said Jamie Postell, VP of Sales for Chiquita North America. “We take pride in teaming up with organizations that align with our sustainability efforts and look forward to repurposing any unused or discarded bananas in a meaningful way.”
For more information on Chiquita’s fitness and recycling initiatives, visit www.chiquita.com. To learn more about Chiquita's sustainability initiatives, click here.
