Going bananas

As a shareholder in DOLE, can't really complain... I'll be sure to try it out. Nothing like a super fresh Banana.

Even where I live if I were to stop by the convenience store, a single banana costs only .60 cents if not .50.

@Maria, its not so much the vending machine idea, its the PRICE. I'll go to a grocery store any day and buy a bunch and take that with me instead.

I really like the idea and it seems to be a profitable one...

Another look at mind-body dualism? Bananas in the machine? Whatever, I'll definitely partake if given the chance.

Maria,

Right on! People on this site only want to bitch and complain. This is in no way a bad thing. I hope to see more pop up and that other types of fruit are sold as well.

Where do the bananas come from? The Philippines? Indo?

Would you really eat a bunch of bananas right there in the stairwell?

Probably not - but I think it is a requirement (and common sense) that vending machines have some sort of receptacle for trash.

50 banana skins lying around the machine would not be a good look.

I had a bunch from tghis machine and they were delicious. also slightly chilled. combini bannanananas suck.

you can see the trash cans on the right side....so that you can throw away your peels? Would you really eat a bunch of bananas right there in the stairwell?

Awesome.

I've heard of living on the Dole, but this is ridiculous.

Not very good management if the machine is empty ever day.

Dole says it plans to sell other fruit products in vending machines in locations like universities and office buildings.

gee i hope they dont start selling watermelons. Can you imagine the TTHHUUMMP that monster would make as it slams into the tray!!

Japan is going absolutely BANANAS over the kinds of vending machines they have.....

Will Kiwi fruits follow suit?

What are you all bitching about, with your smug "I'm a boy scout I'm always prepared" attitudes? It's healthier than buying chocolate bars and crisps from a vending machine, isn't it? If you're in a rush, nowhere near a supermarket and there's a line at the convenience store (that sells a lot of additive-pumped,empty-calorie crap), a banana is a great choice for a snack!

Wow reminds me of that eposide of the office where they replace the food in the vending machine with fruit and all these fruit flies invade it so they just spray a bunch of bug spray inside.

@ratpack: because Dole and its Japanese partner goes bananas for $$$ for bananas.

Why???

Yes, the time is ripe !

@kujiranikusuki: I agree, but I doubt you'd have to worry about Dole products going bad inside a temperature controlled vending machine - especially after being injected and sprayed with enough pesticide to be classified (and I jest) "petrified".

thats cool and all, but most people like to look at their produce from all angles before they buy it. how bummed would you be if your nice expensive banana turned out to be black on one side.

@Weasol: LOl! those are sold in the big vendingmachines called combini's

@Weasel: who needs breath mints, chips, and gum when you can have...BANANAS!

I guess it beats the used pantie days.... and that was a ripoff too yet alone a society sickness. Probably costs the same to have some geezer stand there and sell them. Nicely done Japan- more machines to take jobs. Convenience over common sense but on that note its brilliant compared to the 10 million tobacco vending machines that make this country so beautiful.

Next time I am in Shibuya and feel potassium deprivation, I'll know exactly where to go.

Always do your grocery shoppin' at the local grocery mart. IMO this is ridiculous and overpriced.

Who are the idiots paying that much?? Cheaper at conbinis and much cheaper at the grocery store.

I'd much rather be able to look over a bunch before I buy it.

Soon enough you'll be able to buy vending machines in vending machines.

This news is bananas!

Cost mentioned is for Bananas or Machine Maintenance ?!

Thus must have started out as a joke by an American Dole executive, along the lines of someone at a board meeting saying, "Hey, have you seen the stuff they sell in vending machines in Japan?? How much you wanna bet we could even sell bananas!" Someone took him up, and this is the result.

Where is the takoyaki machine? I mean, really!

130 yen for one? I paid 78 yen for 4 medium size bananas at my supermarket 2 days ago. Still, compared to most stuff at a conbini, this is a good deal.