PHOTO: CITY OF LATROBE, PA.

Plenty of cities and towns in Western Pennsylvania have a significant claim to fame. Pittsburgh, of course, is the Steel City; New Castle stakes its claim as the Fireworks Capital of the World. Johnstown owns its history as Flood City; Bradford is the birthplace of the Zippo lighter.

Today, one area town can update its resume — with a rather unique claim.

Latrobe, Pennsylvania, is now an inductee in the National Banana Hall of Fame.

The hall (which, as of now, does not have a physical location) is an invention of the Dole Food Company, who are currently celebrating the “Dole 125th Banana-versary,” an observance of the company’s quasquicentennial. The company today recognized Latrobe as one of its first three inductees, citing both the invention of the banana split — created, according to Latrobe historians, by soda jerk David Strickler in 1904 — and the city’s ongoing Great American Banana Split Celebration.

Latrobe was named to the hall’s initial class alongside company mascot Bobby Banana and landmark New Orleans restaurant Brennan’s, the original home of the bananas foster dessert.

In a statement, Dole communications director William Goldfield cited the inductees as champions of the banana’s popularity and endurance.

“All of us at Dole are well aware that we could never have made it to our banana quasquicentennial — our 125th year of growing and marketing bananas — without the help of other banana ambassadors with a similar passion for the fruit.”

More inductees will be announced throughout the year.

Visitors to Latrobe can pose for photos beside a giant banana split in the shadow of a historical marker commemorating the dessert’s invention. Those who can wait for a sweet treat should mark their calendars for Aug. 24-25, when this year’s Banana Split Celebration is scheduled — featuring live music, parades and plenty of ice cream.