Chiquita Sprints into Fun at 45[th] Annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Leading banana brand highlights the fun side of running and healthy snacking
Fort Lauderdale, FL – October 5, 2023 – Chiquita, the leading banana brand, is once again teaming up with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon to donate 72,000 delicious yellow bananas. These bananas will energize runners throughout the marathon and aid in their recovery when they triumphantly cross the finish line. To ensure that a peel is not wasted, all discarded banana skins and leftover food scraps will find their way into organic waste bins. From there, they’ll journey to a compost facility, transforming into nutrient-packed soil that will be donated to community gardens throughout the Chicago area, fostering growth in the heart of the city. Leftover Finish Line bananas will also be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the six major marathons in the world and welcomes thousands of participants from across the country each year. The race’s iconic course takes runners on a picturesque architectural tour through 29 neighborhoods in Chicago. As participants reach the finish line, they will be rewarded not only with a medal of accomplishment but also with delicious Chiquita bananas, which are a perfect post-race and workout snack.
“We’re excited to once again be partnering with Chiquita to offer our runners delicious bananas, the perfect snack for boosting energy before the race, and aiding recovery after the run,” said Carey Pinkowski, Executive Race Director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. “This collaboration not only nourishes our runners but also extends into invaluable food donations that significantly benefit our local Chicago community.”
Chiquita bananas are beneficial for heart health and are packed full of nutrients, essential vitamins and minerals like potassium, which is important when building lean muscle. They offer natural sugar in the form of fructose, alongside a substantial amount of fiber that’s slowly digested, helping to avoid sugar spikes. This makes Chiquita bananas an excellent snack choice for athletes and runners alike.
“Chiquita is looking forward to another year of fueling runners with our nutritious bananas at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” said Marco Volpi, Chief Marketing Officer for Chiquita Brands. “We are proud to collaborate with organizations that share our sustainability values, and by repurposing any discarded or unused peels, we are reaffirming our dedication to sustainability and community nourishment.”
For more information on Chiquita’s fitness and recycling initiatives, visit www.chiquita.com, and to learn more about Chiquita's sustainability initiatives, click here. Please find high-res images linked here.
About Chiquita Brands International
Chiquita is a leading global produce company that is committed to providing both consumers and customers across nearly 70 countries with the highest quality of fruit and service, making Chiquita the banana of choice. For more than 150 years, Chiquita has been proudly producing great-tasting, superior quality bananas. The brand creates a positive impact by implementing the principles of sustainability throughout all of its business practices under the “Behind the Blue Sticker” initiative. Chiquita’s iconic Blue Sticker has been the seal of approval for high-quality fruit, and a celebration of fun, but it also represents an unwavering commitment to sustainable farming, biodiversity and giving back to the communities in which the banana plantations operate. Great-tasting and convenient Chiquita bananas are fat-free, and provide a source of potassium, fiber and vitamin B6. To learn more, visit www.chiquita.com.
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