Miss Chiquita Stays Home to Emphasize the Importance of Social Distancing

By Heather Taylor

Miss Chiquita is no longer visible on the Chiquita brand logo. The first lady of fruit is doing her part to emphasize how important it is for everyone to practice social distancing during COVID-19.

Where is Miss Chiquita?

On March 23, 2020, Chiquita tweeted an image of their company logo sans Miss Chiquita. The tweet read “I’m already home. Please do the same and protect yourself.” It ends with a yellow heart emoji and the hashtag #stayhome.

I'm already home. Please do the same and protect yourself. 💛 #stayhome pic.twitter.com/Ga9mlvjn6U

— Chiquita (@Chiquita) March 23, 2020

Under any other circumstance, it would be unusual — bananas, really — to see Miss Chiquita exit packaging appearances. However, as the coronavirus continues to spread around the world, it’s vital to see a mascot like Miss Chiquita advocating for following social distance rules.

Not familiar with the term? Social distancing means staying at least six feet away from other people. Being mindful to create that physical space helps stop or slow the spread of a disease.

Why It Matters That Miss Chiquita Is Blazing the Social Distance Trail

For over 75 years, Miss Chiquita has been the appeeling face of Chiquita. The character debuted in 1944, wearing a hat filled with fruit and a skirt that swayed back and forth. She sang jingles about the delicious taste of bananas and also acted as a banana advocate, sharing tips about how quickly a banana can ripen and where bananas can add delicious flavor. In 2019, Miss Chiquita was inducted into our Advertising Week Madison Avenue Walk of Fame.

Fresh produce, especially bananas, matters for healthy diets. Eating bananas is a great source of potassium for your body. If you didn’t already know it, potassium is a mineral that is also an electrolyte. Getting enough potassium helps the rest of your body out with its essential functions including blood pressure, water balance, and digestive health. Miss Chiquita may be staying home, but she wants you to enjoy bananas from the comfort of your home.

Let’s Practice Social Distancing

Will more brand mascots join Miss Chiquita in exiting their packaging and band together with their respective social distancing initiatives? We certainly hope so. Stay safe, stay home, and practice social distancing. Whether you’re a human being or brand mascot, we are all in this together.