Comments on: Peeling Open the 1947 Chiquita Banana Cookbook

By: Bill Spaniel

Bill Spaniel — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:43:01 +0000

Sometimes a cookbook is just a cookbook, and not a representative of so-called U.S. hegemony. Methinks Ceisel overextends herself in order to align herself with the political views of her doctoral committee.

By: Christina Ceisel

Christina Ceisel — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:47:37 +0000

Thanks to everyone for sharing their memories and thoughts about Miss Chiquita and the United Fruit Company during this era. It is so interesting to hear about how widespread an icon Miss Chiquita truly is! I also want to thank Linda for her book recommendations–my presentation was, in fact, focused on the image and its cultural work. I would be interested to talk to you about any ideas you have in placing this in a larger historical context, it seems to be a topic that has generated quite a bit of excitement.

By: Linda Civitello

Linda Civitello — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:14:40 +0000

Virginia Jenkins covered this territory in a book she wrote for YOU, the Smithsonian Press, in 2000 — Bananas: An American History. Jenkins also wrote the entry on bananas for the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. The politics of banana growing have also been covered extensively in Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World, by Dan Koeppel (NYC: Hudson St. Press, 2008). Koeppel talks about the real death rate from political revolutions, not just images. Ceisel makes it sound as if Chiquita started publishing cookbooks and pamphlets in 1947 to try to get Americans to eat bananas at times other than breakfast, when the cooking pamphlets go back at least 40 years.

By: susie

susie — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:44:37 +0000

I have a good collection of these books that I salvaged from my husband’s grandmother’s garage. She was a farm girl and only completed the 8th grade. These books published by the food companies were basically her home economics books, and I find their recipes to be an homage to Americana, and their ideas about homekeeping and kitchen work rather hilarious! I loved the Chicquita Banana lady….

By: Low Fat Chick

Low Fat Chick — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:53:11 +0000

I know some people think Chiquita is not a favorable symbol of Latin American women, but this article reminded me of how I played Chiquita Banana during a school play in middle school. As they sang the song, I danced with a bowl of fruit on my head and a beautiful, ruffled skirt. It was a proud moment for me. At 34 years old now, and an avid foodie and cook, this talent show moment is very important to me. Thanks for reminding me of this wonderful memory.