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The Great Fruit Debate

So at dinner tonight, Jon and Amanda and I somehow found ourselves in the middle of a conversation about the “Fruit of the Loom” mascots; those men dressed up like giant fruit in the commercials. We could not, however, remember exactly what kinds of fruit they were. We were pretty sure that there was an apple and a bunch of grapes, but we couldn’t remember what else. Eventually we decided that there were actually 2 apples, one red and one green, and a bunch of grapes. However, since we were not certain, and because silly things like that bother me, I decided to look for confirmation on the Internet. I figured that if any site would have the info I needed, it would be the company website. But alas, the fruity mascots were nowhere to be found. The site did offer me some hope, though, in the form of a contact page. So being the involved consumer I am, I sent the company an email asking them to not only identify the fruit in the commercials, but also to tell me if they had names, other than the names of the fruit they were dressed as. I wait with bated breath for a response.

84 Comments

Categories: General.

By Heather
— 10/16/2003 at 10:50 pm
Comment Feed

84 Responses

  1. I believe the red apple’s name is Bob or Steve :)

    Jon — 10/16/2003 @ 10:52 pm —

  2. I and my roommate have been arguing over this issue also. We wanted to know if you know(in the commercial) what kind of fruit the guy in yellow is suppose to be

    mary — 11/06/2003 @ 3:47 pm —

  3. I think he’s supposed to be a pineapple…but don’t take that as gospel, I could be wrong :)

    Heather — 11/08/2003 @ 12:05 am —

  4. At the office we found ourselves in the same discussion. After several attempts to locate information on the web, and emailing the contact line on the home page of Fruit of the Loom site, I found this page. I was able to locate a site that said the the fruit of the loom “leaf” guy had some criminal charges brought against him. Could this third mysterious character be nothing more than a Leaf?

    Tanja — 11/19/2003 @ 8:12 am —

  5. I have also been wondering what the yellow man is supposed to be. This site made me laugh so hard, because now I know that there are people out there who also want to know.

    justin — 12/03/2003 @ 11:22 am —

  6. wow. My life is much less confused now that i know he’s a leaf.

    no, i’m actually serious.

    jill — 12/04/2003 @ 9:51 pm —

  7. I am currently having this debate with my friend Hannah and my husband. I have always thought that the fourth character was a wad of chewing tobacco. I know that makes no sense because it is not a fruit. They think I am nuts, but we are glad we found this website. Hannah is going with hemp and my husband Mickey says a peach. I know it is tobacco.

    Kendall — 08/03/2004 @ 8:14 pm —

  8. If it turns out to be a wad of chewing tobacco I may actually puke. But I have no better guess. Ihope to figure it out soon though cause I am dying to know.

    Sean — 08/15/2004 @ 6:38 pm —

  9. There is a red apple, green grapes, purple grapes, and the fourth is fig leaves. I know because I have been searching for a week trying to find old fruit of the loom commercials as a reference for a skit I have to do at work.

    Kris Houser — 09/02/2004 @ 3:19 pm —

  10. what is that horribly ugly yellow thing in fruit of the loom ads?????

    virginia miracle — 09/23/2004 @ 11:52 am —

  11. what is that horribly ugly yellow thing in fruit of the loom ads?????

    virginia miracle — 09/23/2004 @ 12:14 pm —

  12. I too think that the gross yelow thing is tobacco. My mother on the other hand says no b/c she grew up on a tobacco farm, and even bad tobacco does not look like that.Not to mention the fact that tobacco is NOT a fruit. What does she know? HAHA If it is indeed fig leaves then where the H— is the fig????!!!! Maybe they are not using the fig b/c it looks like poo, and who wants poo on any part of ones clothing? Here’s another question, why is this so hard to find out? What is fruit of the loom hiding?? Why are they messing w/ us this way?? This is a simple question it’s not like we are wanting to know the secret of life or something. So the point is, I think it is tobacco. My Mother says that it isn’t any type of fruit but just something that the company came up w/ to create “water fountain conversation.” and to keep the world guessing. Makes one think.

    ananda — 12/25/2004 @ 11:14 pm —

  13. my friend ivy and I were smoking our morning bowl, watching 101 crimes of fashion on E!. . .when a fruit of the loom commerical came on. . .the one with firemen. . .ivy says “hey jackki what the fuck is that yellow thing!!” and i replied with “i know i have been wondering that for a while” I went online and searched and searched and searched and found this page. . .i think fruit of the loom are complete stoners and made the costume and forgot what fruit it was. . .we think it looks like a pile of really bad bud

    Jackki — 06/06/2005 @ 9:04 am —

  14. I don’t know what the yellow thing is, but I know WHY it is.

    To make people like us ask questions.

    IT’S CRAZY!

    Suave — 06/11/2005 @ 7:25 pm —

  15. Thank god, I thought I was crazy. I have been search everywere. Anybody have an actual answer.

    Angela — 06/18/2005 @ 5:27 pm —

  16. We were just having this same conversation at the office and I couldn’t work until I figured this out. I finally found this site and it confirmed the fruit are: Apple, Grapes, Gooseberries and a cluster of leaves – they don’t specify which leaves they are.

    http://www.adweek.com/aw/creative/best_spots_02/020816_05.jsp

    Now we can all sleep soundly at night knowing this information!!!!

    Dawn — 06/24/2005 @ 8:07 am —

  17. My student worker just asked me the “what is the yellow one” questions this morning and so here we are, like the rest of you … searching! The link mentioned above is three years old and doesn’t actually answer the “yellow” question. Like all of you we’re not sure what it is but we have had a great laugh this morning reading everyone’s comments! Thank you all!!! The newest commercials are fabulous too!

    I will continue to look … you would think it wouldn’t be all that difficult but apparently it is!

    Laura — 06/27/2005 @ 8:11 am —

  18. I too stand in disbelief of the ‘tobacco’ statement as the identity of the “yellow thingy.” But, clearing my tears from some rightous humor I have found here, maybe, “the world may never know”

    Sandy — 07/08/2005 @ 9:07 pm —

  19. Amazing! I’m sitting at my computer laughing out loud with tears rolling out my eyes because, I too, have joined the craze of trying to discover what in the heck is that yellow thing. I’m still leary about it being leaves. Why couldn’t they just make him green and in someway resemble a cluster of leaves. I can now break the news to my kids. Thanks everyone.

    Linda — 07/10/2005 @ 8:09 am —

  20. I wanna know what he is SO badly! My mother thinks he is a golden raisin, leaves or a fig… But if he is a leaf… Why don’t they make him dark green? And if you look at his cap, he has a stem on his cap, its a little one and its kinda flopped over. I am not sure at all what he is, I too have sent an email to Fruit of the Loom via the Contact page asking exactly what he is, but I have not recieved a reply yet. I am SO glad that there are others on here searching for the answer, my family all thought I was crazy… But I am determined to find a correct answer that makes sense!

    Jessica — 07/11/2005 @ 9:47 am —

  21. I agree the yellow guy can’t possibly be a bunch of leaves. I mean, yellow leaves in a huge clump with a stem on top? C’mon–that makes no sense! The stem and it’s shape would rule out yellow raisin or pineapple.

    If fruit of the loom is smart (which they certainly are with their clever ads), they’d exploit this mystery by getting the question out there more widely,,,”What is that yellow guy supposed to be?” They could really create some buzz.

    Cindy — 07/15/2005 @ 8:10 pm —

  22. Me and my buddies thought the yellow/ light brown guy(drummer) looked alot like a wad of bran cereal…or a scrotum

    Brian — 07/20/2005 @ 8:18 pm —

  23. My son thinks that it is a golden raisin also. Raisin do have small stems on them sometimes. Afterall, they are dried grapes.

    Teri — 07/21/2005 @ 6:50 pm —

  24. History of Fruit of the Loom Inc.

    1851 Benjamin and Robert Knight buy their first mill in Warwick, Rhode Island and beginproducing cotton cloth and textiles

    1856 The B.B and R Knight Corporation adapt paintings of fruit by Miss Skeel, daughter of one of its customers, as printed labels for its cloth and the name ‘Fruit of the Loom’ is adopted.

    1871 ‘Fruit of the Loom’ is registered as U.S. trademark #418 at the United States Patent Office – only a year after the passage of the first trademark law by Congress.

    1893 For the Chicago World’s Fair, Robert Knight had new variations on the label prepared as part of Fruit of the Loom’s exhibits – including the familiar apple, grapes, gooseberries and leaves, which is still used today.

    Bee — 07/21/2005 @ 7:03 pm —

  25. we thought the yellow guy was a very shriveled up raisin or a tobbaco leaf. Glad we are not the only ones who are going crazy trying to figure this out.

    jan and kris — 07/22/2005 @ 5:05 pm —

  26. I can’t believe I have found so many people out there who have been wondering about the yellow guy. The new ads have really made me wonder so in doing the research I wound up here. You guys are hysterical. And, I too, have came with tobacco, leaves, pineapple, and a raisin. My question is, “If so many people are concerned about this guy, why in the world can’t Fruit of the Loom see that this could be their next ad compain. The Quest for the Missing Identity. Anyway, thanks for the laughs, ya’ll..

    Melissa — 07/29/2005 @ 6:41 am —

  27. I have been wondering this for a while as well.
    My boyfriend and I argue about what the yellow dude actually is.
    If it is leaves then why isn’t it dark green?
    I don’t get it.

    Ashley — 07/29/2005 @ 9:54 pm —

  28. Yeah, I think it’s a golden raisin thing. Three of my friends and I have been trying to figure this out for a while too. You’d think Fruit of the Loom itself would be more helpful and have like a fun section that would like tell you what they are. But oh well. Be sure to post it if you find out for sure. Thanks guys!

    Carolyn — 08/03/2005 @ 6:55 pm —

  29. wow i rilly though i was crzzi when i first started wondering about this unknown fruit! i looked it up for weeks until i came across this website, i think its either a fig leaf or a rasin..think about it why the heck would there be a leaf on the commericial! if it were a leaf it would be GREEN if it was a pinapple it would be more rounded and have a green thing off the top. and come on i can gurentee i you all its not tobacco…..

    Isabelle — 08/05/2005 @ 10:48 am —

  30. I met him. He’s a leaf.

    Joan — 08/06/2005 @ 6:25 pm —

  31. He’s not a leaf, nor is he a pineapple… He’s a very special fruit that can only be found by those who wear this brand of underwear. He’s a DINGLEBERRY.

    Steve — 08/10/2005 @ 7:33 pm —

  32. After reading a couple messages suggesting that the unknown character might be a bunch of tobacco leaves, I took the liberty of looking up a photo of tobacco leaves. It is very clear that the unknown character is a bunch of tobacco leaves. Take a look for yourselves… http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9605/03/nfm/smoking.blood.test/leaves.lg.jpg

    Irik — 08/11/2005 @ 11:40 pm —

  33. Me and my kids have been having this discussion for weeks. So I decided to do some research and this website was the most helpful…and funny. I have decided, after reading all the posts, I must agree that the yellow guy DOES look the most like tobacco leaves, which I had never seen before but checked out the link provided by Irik on Aug 11.

    Diane — 08/14/2005 @ 3:44 pm —

  35. I must wonder why in 1893 did Robert Knight say: “We shall call it Fruit of the Loom. And all of the world’ best fruit shall be portrayed. Apples, grapes, gooseberries, and LEAVES.” Why has no one questioned that leaves are in deed not fruit? Seriously, thanks for helping me clarify who the yellow guy was. My boyfriend has been sick with worry over this illusive character.

    Katie — 08/16/2005 @ 9:27 pm —

  36. Well, now, y’all need to know that these here fruits are part of the harvest. Mixed with the fruit are golden leaves signifing the bounty of the harvest. These leaves also make good filler material and all good business and ad men know they need fillers, binders and BS.

    Farmer Bob — 09/11/2005 @ 8:19 pm —

  37. well they never say that the yellow dude is a friut do they, he could just hang out with them and could be ANYTHING!!!
    But i think he is the leaves from the original logo

    kevan — 09/14/2005 @ 6:07 pm —

  38. We are just having the same debate here at work! Amazing that people sit at work to discuss something like this. And why is it such a big secret? Can someone not help that actually knows?

    Angie — 09/20/2005 @ 9:44 am —

  39. Thanks for making my wife’s life complete. This was a major debate.

    Bryan — 10/14/2005 @ 8:00 pm —

  40. thanks for the laugh ,my friend and i were watching tv ,out of the clear blue she asked what the hell is the yellow thing with the fruit of the loom guys?after reading all of the responses on this site i think he is a bunch of leaves,maybe he’s there in case someone takes a —- and needs to wipe.

    dawn — 10/18/2005 @ 8:18 pm —

  41. We were celebrating Jeff’s birthday and trying to figure out our Halloween costumes. We thought Fruit of the Loom characters would be a great idea!!! Jeff yelled out “I’m the apple”! Todd said “I’m the purple grapes”. I said “I’m the green grapes” and Mareen was silent. Then we all started laughing because we had no idea what the yellow thing was. We searched the web like everyone else, watched the video and came up with golden raisin, tobacco and leaves. We have come to the conclusion that Fruit of the Loom is hiding their dirty laundry.

    Maureen, Jeff, Todd & Nicola — 10/22/2005 @ 8:28 pm —

  42. Ok, I think I have the answer to everyone’s plight as to what the Fig Leaves are for…….remember Adam and Eve? They are used to cover the genitals, just like Fruit of the Loom underwear do. I, too, often wondered what the hell was that yellow thing. I always knew they were leaves. Since looking at this site and many had suggested that they were, in fact, Fig Leaves…..that would be the only logical explaination.

    Laura — 11/12/2005 @ 1:10 pm —

  43. OK people. I have read all of these postings and have been convinced that the yellow thing is leaves but look at this Walmart Flyer. Look at the picture to the left of the men. What are the little yellow circular things under the apple?????????

    Kendra — 11/20/2005 @ 5:49 pm —

  45. We would like to submit our guess of….. the yellow leafy dude being grape leaves …. Yes?…No?…Possibly?….

    Monique and Friends — 11/28/2005 @ 9:27 pm —

  46. I think the yellow dude is the leaves from the grapes.

    Eric Miller — 12/02/2005 @ 12:51 pm —

  47. We are having a debate on this very issue on advancedanime.com. It has been bothering me for years! So when I found this I was like oh my God… there are others! It bothers me, I need to know just what he is! The only thing I can agree with a bit is the golden raisin…

    Arabella — 12/04/2005 @ 4:46 pm —

  48. We’ve also been wondering what that thing is. I thought it was a golden raisin, Nat said it was lettuce. We’ve been laughing at all the responses and am glad to know we’re not the only ones.

    Mark and Nat — 12/05/2005 @ 8:25 pm —

  49. The Answer has arrived. I went to download the new #1 smash hit by the Fruit of the Loom Guys “You can’t overlove your underwear” and I found the featured members of the gourp on this website….The Mystery man is in fact A LEAF….The truth is out and we must face it…..Check out this website…It is under read the “fruit guys biographies” and his picture and his name are there clear as day! The mystery is SOLVED and the wait is over!!!

    http://www.fruitcountryvideo.com/bio_apple.aspx

    Kristen — 12/07/2005 @ 11:08 pm —

  50. I live in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where Fruit of the Loom’s corporate office is. I have several friends who work at Fruit, and sadly they didn’t know what the yellow leafy thing was either. After some research (and some disappointment in never having seen them around town) I have determined that when Fruit’s ad people decided to make actual mascots, they took them literally from the Fruit logo, which includes leaves behind the fruit to flesh out the logo. Oh and the round gold things under the apple are gooseberries. Not sure why they didn’t make the jump to real life character.

    Leah — 12/14/2005 @ 3:44 am —
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