- Chiquita Banana


	Piece	Chiquita Banana
	Year	1974
	Condition	C - 8
	Description	16" stuffed
	Company	Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

After the end of WWII, United Fruit Company unloaded its last military cargo and sent its fleet of ships into the Caribbean to harvest fresh bananas for Americans weary of C-rations and shortages. To promote their product, they hired musicians Garth Montgomery and Len MacKenzie to come up with a song with a catchy calypso beat. The tune was sung by the fiery and energetic character Chiquita Banana, who was every inch a lady. The original lyrics were: "I'm Chiquita Banana and I've come to say, Bananas have to ripen in a certain way... Bananas like the climate of the very very tropical equator, So you should never put bananas in the refrigerator."

Chiquita became an instant celebrity and her song was a smash hit, heard on the radio, on juke boxes, and played by prominent jazz bands. It was even performed by Carmen Miranda and Xavier Cugat, among others.

Eventually, the company even changed its name to Chiquita Brands International, and Chiquita's profile still graces each and every bunch of bananas the company sells. This doll in bright, primary colors, has a red dress with lace accents, red shoes, and a yellow banana body with a hat full of fruit and flowers. The Chiquita logo is printed on her chest.

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