CHARLOTTE, NC - With 125 years of experience in the category, Dole Food Company knows how to harness momentum when it comes to the staple produce item that is the banana. The produce brand recently commissioned a national survey by OnePoll to gauge consumers’ shopping habits ahead of this year’s National Banana Day tomorrow, April 17.

“Since bananas reign supreme as one of the most-purchased items in not only the produce department but the entire supermarket, a study of banana buying and consumption habits can reveal a lot about Americans’ thoughts on grocery shopping, health and nutrition overall,” said William Goldfield, Director of Corporate Communications for Dole. “As the most knowledgeable experts and brand behind the world’s most-requested banana, we need to keep up with the habits and desires of banana lovers both on National Banana Day and throughout the year.”

Exploring Americans' grocery-, produce- and banana-shopping habits; food needs; and nutrition priorities, the study surveyed 2,000 Americans from March 14–16 as part of Dole 125^thBanana-versary, a press release explained.

Some key highlights from the report include:

• 35 percent of respondents ranked bananas as a must-have grocery staple, which was more than any other produce and sixth on the list of all supermarket items; bananas also ranked as the top impulse produce purchase
• 29 percent said they like eating bananas that are at least partially green, including 6 percent that prefer the fruit mostly green, while 50 percent of banana lovers want perfectly yellow fruit with no green or brown spots
• Bananas ranked third as a sugar replacement in recipes and cooking
• Almost four in 10 (39 percent) are willing to pay more for brands that commit to sourcing transparency and supply chain and environmental sustainability

“There’s a unique opportunity here for Dole to work with retailers to put some of these survey findings in produce variety and ripeness, nutrition, and shopping preferences to work for them to generate even better results across the entire produce department,” Goldfield added. “Retailers who partner with Dole for a banana program can expect our 25 years of sustainable banana growing, unsurpassed account servicing, and merchandising experience right at their stores.”

Dole has a variety of celebrations planned for its 125^thBanana-versary. To read about this exciting milestone, as well as more insights from the survey, click here.

Stay tuned as ANUK continues to cover all things bananas.