In the 19th century, American society was faced with a peculiar dilemma: the phallic shape of bananas. At that time, the type of banana consumed was more “wild” and resembled the plantain, exhibiting an even more evident shape.
Such a peculiarity was enough to trigger a feeling of panic, with people feeling embarrassed to be seen carrying or consuming the fruit. To avoid any obscene connotations, individuals adopted curious strategies.
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Some chose to wrap the bananas in aluminum foil, hoping to disguise their shape. Others, more drastic, decided to slice the fruit, eliminating any possibility of association with sexual connotations. However, the problem reached alarming proportions and social concern became evident.
It was then that Andrew Preston of the Boston Fruit Company in Massachusetts came up with an innovative idea to allay these concerns: launching an awareness campaign. Preston created postcards with images of women holding bananas, but without any provocative overtones.
This strategy aimed to show society that there was nothing wrong or sexual about the fruit in question. The cards, distributed widely, showed elegantly dressed women holding bananas naturally and without any undue suggestion.
The Stigma of the Avocado
Historical discoveries reveal an intriguing story behind the sexualization of fruits, demystifying the belief that only bananas were the target of these associations. At the beginning of the 20th century, surprising rumors appeared about the avocado exuding sensuality.
The Aztecs, ancient inhabitants of Mexico, were the first to name the fruit with the native word “ahuacatl”, which was also used to refer to the “testicles”.
The avocado's rounded, drop-shaped shape, combined with its supposed ability to arouse sexual desire, contributed to this curious association. However, historians still debate whether the fruit was named after the organ or if slang adopted the name of the fruit.
In the 16th century, when the Spanish conquered Mexico, the word “ahuacatl” was transformed into “aguacate”. However, when North American farmers discovered the fruit, they found the name difficult to understand. pronounce and have suggested over 40 different names, including “avocat” and “alligator pear” (alligator pear).
Interestingly, the avocado was not grown commercially until 1914. It wasn't until hotels in Los Angeles and San Francisco started ordering large quantities of the fruit, paying as much as $12 a dozen, that the avocado began to gain popularity.