'Sun-Maid Girl' Makeover Sparks Controversy

[BABY1]

TweetIn the annals of advertising imagery, few brand symbols are more iconic and recognizable than the Sun-Maid raisin girl.

Nevertheless, Sun-Maid recently decided to join Betty Crocker, Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Butterworth's in giving the female face of their product a substantial makeover from a young, early 20th-century girl into a buxom, modern young woman, leading some to say that the newly made-over raisin girl looks like a Barbie Doll in Amish attire


Since 1915, the face of Sun-Maid has been Lorraine Collett Petersen, who, according to the company's website , "was discovered drying her black hair curls in the sunny backyard of her parents' home in Fresno, California." Petersen was then asked to pose for a watercolor painting holding a basket of grapes while wearing a sunbonnet. In the years since, the company has tweaked its trademark design occasionally to keep up with the times, but every variation has always been based on the original pose by Petersen. The new computer-animated version of the Sun-Maid girl currently featured in television advertisements is a departure from the classic design that harkened back to a time when "life was much simpler, more rural, a lot less hectic."

Sun-Maid

Naturally, the revamped look hasn't gone unnoticed, rankling both ends of the political spectrum. The blog for conservative magazine The Weekly Standard noted that the new Sun-Maid girl looks "as if Julia Roberts decided to don a red bonnet and start picking grapes," while the feminist website Jezebel.com remarked that it looks as if she's had “some implants.”

Though the new look for the raisin girl has been garnering attention of late, the changes to the 90-year-old icon were actually introduced three years ago. At the time, Sun-Maid president Barry Kriebel sai that the decision to make changes was inspired by the desire to educate consumers about healthy living choices.

"This is as good a time as any to get on the wave of health and nutrition,'' he said. Kriebel also noted that he felt the new look was a reasonable modernization, saying "You're not going to see her dancing or kicking up her heels out in the vineyard, but have her do what is appropriate for her to do, based on her history but also being a contemporary person living in the 21st century.''

Additionally, there's been talk that the new Sun-Maid girl might be given a name and featured in future advertisements doing some of the things modern women typically do, like going to the gym, shopping at the market, and speaking multiple languages, particularly languages native to countries where Sun-Maid, the world's largest producer and processor of raisins and other dried fruits, sells raisins. However, the image on all Sun-Maid product packaging will remain the same, as the new version will only be featured in product advertisements.

[BABY1]

TweetThis is goofy!

[daved150]

Tweeti agree!! where can i get a job that i can sit around and modernize company logo's? i'd be good at that

[Dzone]

TweetThat tight shirt and those boobs are going to sell a lot of raisins...lol

[6p6]

TweetI'm all for it but I'd have prefered a more sheer top that might have exposed some raisinettes!

[6p6]

Tweet

That tight shirt and those boobs are going to sell a lot of raisins...lol

shoot I went out and bought a box just to enjoy the new pic while I was eating them! LMAO

[dixiechick]

Tweet

i agree!! where can i get a job that i can sit around and modernize company logo's? i'd be good at that

Hey don't knock it... some of us have to make a living some how!

[Michelle Hayden]

TweetI think their tryin to make her look more "organic", lol

[Lizard King]

TweetShe's a hottie now, I'd do her, LOL

I have the sudden urge for raisins!!