Pedestrians strolling down Calgary’s famous Stephen Avenue were treated to a historic moment Tuesday, as renowned fruit sculptor Shawn Feeney helped Orange Julius® set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® title for largest fruit sculpture. The 10-foot-tall fruit tree (officially measured at 3.06 m), comprised of 1,200 pieces of pineapple, orange, strawberry, peach and mango, was certified onsite by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS adjudicator Michael Empric and officially entered into the record books.
The achievement celebrates the launch of Orange Julius® at all Dairy Queen® Canada locations and was topped off by a meet and greet with 2010 Olympic Silver Medalist curler Cheryl Bernard and 4,000 free Orange JuliusStrawberry Premium Fruit Smoothies for the public in exchange for donations to Children’s Miracle Network® and its local partner, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Canadian Red Cross in support of Alberta flood relief. Money raised was equally divided between both charities following the event.
Calgary is considered a Heritage Market by Dairy Queen® Canada, where its Orange Julius® locations and products are well recognized and have been enjoyed for decades.
“To set the world record for largest fruit sculpture in Calgary makes the event even more special,” said Denise Hutton, Vice President, Marketing Dairy Queen ® Canada. “ Orange Julius® enjoys a loyal fan base here, which we wanted to recognize with today’s achievement while helping to support those affected by the flooding, and to let Albertans know that Orange Julius® can now be enjoyed outside of malls at any DQ® Canada location.”
This isn’t DQ® Canada’s first foray into the record books. In 2011 it broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for largest ice cream cake at Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square.
This time around, the successful fruit sculpture saw coverage from The Wall Street Journal’s “MarketWatch,” Yahoo! Finance, and Canada’s National Post.
“We’ve been a part of some incredible events over the course of our nearly 30-year partnership with DQ® Canada,” said John Hartman, Chief Operating Officer, Children’s Miracle Network®. “Time and time again they manage to raise the bar, and today’s achievement is no exception.”
