Here in the United States we celebrate our Independence Day every July 4th and to mark the occasion this year I thought I’d focus on one of Just Born’s patriotic offerings from a decade ago; Mike and Ike Stripes!
Mike and Ike Stripes candies came in red, white and blue colors (with corresponding cherry, vanilla cream and blueberry flavors) and were marketed to be sold in conjunction with all of the major summer holidays. Here’s the flyer that was presented to the candy trade promoting them:
Just Born – Mike and Ike Stripes – promotional flyer – 2002-2003
I’m fortunate to have a Mike and Ike Stripes box in my collection and here it is:
JustBorn – Mike and Ike Featured Flavor Stripes – 2003
It’s great to see the 1990’s-2000’s Mike and Ike fruit mascots dressed up in patriotic garb for the Stripes package, and it makes that box one of my favorites from the early 2000’s.
Beyond Mike and Ike, 2003 also saw patriotic releases of Just Born’s classic Peeps, with Patriotic Peeps as well as Peeps and Stars.
Just Born – Patriotic Peeps – promotional flyer – 2003
I don’t have any examples of the Patriotic Peeps packages in my collection, so I’ll highlight two of the sections from the flyer for close-ups:
Just Born – Patriotic Peeps – highlight – 2003
Just Born – Peeps and Stars – highlight – 2003
And that’s everything I’ve got to share for this 4th of July, 2013. I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend with lots of fun, family and friends.
If you’re shooting fireworks, be careful and whatever else you might be doing – be safe out there! Happy 4th of July!
See you next time!
The mike and ikes are returning this year as Patriotic Mix but with more dessert-like flavors. I didn’t know or remember Mike and Ikes when this design was around, but I knew them since 2005 or 2006. Since they are returning this year I am definitely getting a box. Patriotic peeps are still available but are hard to find, and are now vanilla cream flavored.
I was also thinking of making the mega mix (which has already 10 flavors) more “mega”, by adding 5-10 more flavors. That mega mix would look great in a Candy Magic dispenser.
Yes! I actually found the new Patriotic Mix last week! The flavors are definitely named with dessert names (like 4th of July picnic themed names, I think) but they might actually be the same flavors. So, instead of Cherry, we now get “Cherry Cobler” but it might actually just be the exact same cherry flavor. 🙂