CHIQUITA BANANA
According to Chiquita, the 1944 “Chiquita Banana” jingle was “was written to help teach Americans how to ripen and use bananas, which were, at the time, an exotic tropical fruit.” The song uses Latinx stereotypes to make bananas familiar for American consumers.
Bananas were actually first introduced to the USA in 1804, and by 1900 were a $6.4 million industry, but WWII disrupted banana imports.
At peak popularity, the jingle played 376 times a day on the radio!
Bananas were actually first introduced to the USA in 1804, and by 1900 were a $6.4 million industry, but WWII disrupted banana imports.
At peak popularity, the jingle played 376 times a day on the radio!
The song was created by an advertising agency team who shook a box of paper clips to simulate maracas while composing.
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The “Good Neighbor” mentioned in the full song refers to the Roosevelt Administration's non-intervention policy for Latin America.
The “Miss Chiquita” banana character was modeled after the “Brazilian bombshell” stereotype ascribed to 1940s film star Carmen Miranda. Patti Clayton was the first “Miss Chiquita.”
The “Miss Chiquita” banana character was modeled after the “Brazilian bombshell” stereotype ascribed to 1940s film star Carmen Miranda. Patti Clayton was the first “Miss Chiquita.”