• November 11, 2011

Dole Food Company, Inc. has made an equity investment in Cleveland-based Healthy Foods, LLC, producer of the Yonanas frozen treat maker.

The machine uses proprietary technology to turn frozen bananas and other frozen fruit into a dessert that looks and tastes like soft-serve ice cream, with no additives and as few as 100 calories per serving.

The machine will be rebranded as DOLE-yonanas, and Dole will help Healthy Foods increase retail distribution. The treat-maker is currently carried by retailers including Target, Sears, Bed Bath & Beyond, K-mart and Amazon (price: $49.99).

The companies also plan to develop a new, commercial line of the machine for restaurants, schools, hospitals, hotels and other venues.