Peel Soft Serve – the local company that rescues overripe bananas and turns them into a delicious frozen dessert – is one of 40 recipients of the Innovator Awards from the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) and Chase.  

“We feel incredibly grateful to have been selected this year and honored that our work is being recognized at a national level,” says Valeria Alvarez, who started her business as a food truck, then expanded to a shop in Miami Shores.

They use bananas that would otherwise be discarded and coconut milk to create a creamy, dairy-free dessert. Peel also incorporates other seasonal local fruits like black sapote into their menu. “We are also highly intentional about everything we source, from our ingredients to our packaging, spoons, and napkins. Our menu centers on whole fruits and whole foods, and we compost an average of 12,000 banana peels each year,” says Alvarez.

Each recipient receives a $25,000 grant to strengthen proven practices in sustainability, workforce well-being and community impact. “With support from Chase, we’re proud to spotlight the groundbreaking work happening in restaurants nationwide—work that can be adopted, adapted and scaled across the country,” says Erika Polmar, executive director of the IRC.