Dole Contest Sets Banana World Record in Latrobe

August 25 is National Banana Split Day, complemented by National Whiskey Sour Day and National Park Service Founders Day, with a pop quiz tying a 1972 Chicago song to Central Park's ice cream vendors. In Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the Great American Banana Split Celebration crowned William “Will” Price champion of the banana-peel contest after he ate 12 bananas, amid a festival that honors the dessert’s 1904 invention and is sponsored by Dole through 2027. The celebration began in 2013 and has grown into a weekend event featuring a 5K, car show and other activities, underscoring the region’s banana heritage. National Banana Lovers Day on August 27 highlights the fruit’s culinary versatility and a global market that has risen from about $145.9 billion in 2025 to roughly $150.4 billion this year, with projections to reach $181 billion by 2032. Latrobe’s festival is now in its 13th year, reinforcing the town’s association with the banana split and drawing visitors from across the region. Overall, bananas remain central to culture, cuisine and commerce, reflected in ongoing festivals and a broad array of value-added banana products.