Fruit Stripe
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Fruit Stripe is an artificially and naturally flavored fruit chewing gum that is notorious for its strong but fleeting flavor. It is packaged in zebra-striped wrappers, and every stick now comes with one or more temporary tattoos. Three five-flavor packs are made: cherry, lemon, orange, mixed fruit, and lime; cherry, grape, mixed fruit, lemon, and cotton candy; sugar-free. However, an alternative version of the initial pack consists of wet 'n wild melon, cherry, lemon, orange, and peach smash. The product proudly holds claim that it is the only gum with painted-on stripes. In the late 1970s, there was a chocolate version called Chocolate Stripe.[1]
The "Five Flavor Gum" was invented by James Parker and launched in the early 1960s as an extension of the Beech-Nut gum line. Farley's & Sathers Candy Company, Inc. acquired Fruit Stripes in 2003 from Hershey Foods Corporation.
In 1996, Fruit Stripe gave five cents from the sale of each Jumbo Pack and Variety Multipack to the World Wildlife Fund, totaling up to $100,000, for the preservation of endangered animals and their habitats.[1]
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[edit] Mascots
A character known as the Fruit Stripe Gum Man promoted the product as late as 1967;[2] he merely consisted of an anthropomorphic gum pack with limbs and a face. The Stripes Family Animals, which included a zebra, tiger, elephant, and mouse, were also used in advertising and featured in a coloring book and plush toys.[3][4]
However, the zebra named Yipes has outlasted the other characters to become Fruit Stripe's long-standing, sole mascot. Wrappers contain tattoos of Yipes inline skating, playing baseball, hang gliding, playing basketball, bicycling, snowboarding, surfing, playing soccer, and playing tennis. In 1988, Yipes was made into a promotional bendy figure which, according to FarleysandSathers.com, is currently valued at approximately $30-$50 in collector marketplaces.
[edit] Cultural references
The Beastie Boys compared their band's "flavor" to Fruit Stripe on their song "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" on the album Paul's Boutique.
The Peepers brand of reading glasses offers a colorful set of "Fruit Stripe Gum" frames.[5]
Fruit Stripe was referenced in the Family Guy episode, "Play It Again, Brian," the tenth episode of its 6th season. Peter chews a stick of the gum only to lose its flavor in seconds.
In Home Alone 2, Macaulay Culkin's character, Kevin, gives a bellboy (played by Rob Schneider) a piece of Fruit Stripe gum as a "tip".
[edit] External links
- Fruit Stripe Gum TV commercial (1960s)
- Fruit Stripe Gum TV commercial (1960s)
- Fruit Stripe Gum TV commercial (1991)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Who We Are FarleysandSathers.com
- ^ Fruit Stripe Gum Man w/ motorcycle AdvertisingIconMuseum.org. Retrieved on 2-25-09.
- ^ Food Character Premiums TheImaginaryWorld.com. Retrieved on 2-25-09.
- ^ Yipes! Stripes! Retrieved on 2-25-09.
- ^ Peepers 810 Fruit Striped Gum Reading Glasses Peepers.com. Retrieved on 2-25-09.
[edit] External linkss
Farley's & Sathers product page
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