The award was presented to Raúl Martinez, Managing Director of Standard Fruit Company de Costa Rica S.A recently by Vice President of the Republic of Costa Rica Luis Liberman.  The prize distinguishes Dole and Standard Fruit’s outstanding records of providing state-of-the-art Health and Safety programs for employees, preventing workplace discrimination, ensuring equal opportunities and promoting diversity. In particular, the Vice President noted Dole and Standard Fruit’s efforts to improve the standard of living for employees and their families.

“This award encourages us to continue our efforts and commitment to corporate responsibility and employee relations.  We know that our success is measured not only through our financial returns, but also through the well-being of our workers and the improvement of the standard of living in the communities,” said Martinez.

ABOUT DOLE FOOD COMPANY

Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas and producer/shipper of organic pineapples. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

BAMA’s Supplier of the Year award is given to the company that best demonstrates excellence in five key areas: product quality, market orientation and development, ethical and environmental practices, food safety, as well as service quality and reliability. Dole has a long history with the distributor, supplying BAMA with fruit like bananas, pineapples and grapes for more than 18 years.

“Winning the BAMA International Supplier of the Year award is a very special honor for all our Dole employees and growers,” said David DeLorenzo, President and CEO of Dole Food Company, Inc.  “Dole’s position as a leader in the produce industry results from a dedication to exceeding customer expectations. All our employees work hard every day to achieve this objective.”

BAMA is one of the oldest trading companies in Norway, founded in 1886. Today, it is the country’s largest distributor of fresh and processed fruit, vegetables and potatoes. Both locally and globally, BAMA has placed significant focus on environmental and social responsibility. Social and environmental practices are important factors, which are integrated into BAMA’s strategy when doing business with suppliers.

Since 2005, BAMA and Dole have partnered to improve sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in Latin America. Among some initiatives, Dole and BAMA participate in a pilot program aimed at measuring the environmental impact of Dole’s bananas distributed in Norway. This initiative, led by Østfoldforskning, a Norwegian research institute, is based on a Life Cycle Assessment approach and includes impacts beyond the greenhouse gases emissions.   

ABOUT DOLE FOOD COMPANY

Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas and producer/shipper of organic pineapples. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com. For more information on Dole’s sustainability initiatives, please visit www.dolesustainability.com. 

PE INTERNATIONAL is working with Dole on the implementation of SoFi, a central sustainability platform that transforms data from corporate activities into meaningful performance information. Dole is in the process of harmonizing its key sustainability indicators, including the company’s carbon footprint, which will then be consolidated into SoFi and reported on a regular basis.

“SoFi will not only contribute to improving our sustainability reporting,” said Roberto Vega, Director of Sustainability at Dole Food Company, Inc. “It will also increase the efficiency of managing the Company’s information related to sustainability and allow us to set and achieve global objectives, instead of focusing on each operation separately.”

“Dole’s sustainability program is well established,” said Michael Betz, CEO at PE INTERNATIONAL. “With PE’s experience in the food and beverage industry we will assist Dole in bringing all the elements together to integrate sustainability as a key component of their day-to-day business – from reporting to enhancing processes and products. We look forward to working together to achieve Dole’s sustainability objectives including lowering energy consumption and carbon emissions, benchmarking operations, and mitigating risks.”

ABOUT DOLE FOOD COMPANY

Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas and producer/shipper of organic pineapples. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

ABOUT PE INTERNATIONAL

PE INTERNATIONAL is one of the world’s most experienced sustainability software, content and strategic consulting firms. With 20 years of experience and 20 offices around the globe, PE INTERNATIONAL allows clients to understand sustainability, improve their performance and succeed in the marketplace. Through market leading software solutions, Five Winds Strategic Consulting Services and implementation methodologies PE INTERNATIONAL has worked with some of the world’s most respected firms to develop the strategies, management systems, tools and processes needed to achieve leadership in sustainability. 

The negotiations with the workers’ representatives started in January and concluded last week with the signing of a two-year Collective Bargaining Agreement. “The signing of this agreement formalizes the constructive dialogue which has prevailed between Dole in Ecuador and FENACLE. We are confident that the quality of the relationship and this new CBA will be beneficial not only to the workers but also to the Company”, said Peter Gilmore, Managing Director of Dole Ubesa.

At the signing of the agreement in the local Labor Relations Ministry offices, Prospero Mendoza, FENACLE’s General Secretary, said: “FENACLE congratulates the workers and the Company in the efforts they have made to secure real social dialogue and develop stable and cooperative labor relations”.

ABOUT DOLE FOOD COMPANY

Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas and producer/shipper of organic pineapples. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com. 

An interactive section, called “explore” invites visitors to become more familiar with some very specific corporate responsibility and sustainability initiatives developed at the local level, worldwide.

“Our new website focuses less on policies and more on results. For example, we have a dedicated section concentrating on metrics, where our carbon and water footprint assessments have been posted. This section will be updated on a regular basis, following the gathering of additional information aimed at measuring our performance in the sustainability area,” said Sylvain Cuperlier, the Vice President of Worldwide Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at Dole Food Company, Inc.

The new site is available at: www.dolesustainability.com. It is available in English for the time being and should be translated into other languages soon.

About Dole Food Company
Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas and producer/shipper of organic pineapples. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

Included in the trip were site visits to El Muelle Pineapple Plantation, Rio Frio Banana Farm and its New Millennium Packing Plant, one of Fundecor’s reforestation and conservation project and the Dole Chile Container Vessel at the Port of Moin. The itinerary was constructed to highlight Dole’s efforts in reducing the carbon and water footprints in pineapple and banana production from farm to retailer. 

“This past weekend was an excellent opportunity for Dole to share its latest developments in sustainability and engage through an open dialogue with our guests about the ‘Four Pillars of Sustainability,’” said Sylvain Cuperlier, Dole’s Vice President of Worldwide Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability. “With input from key stakeholders, such our guests this past weekend, we hope to continue the development of new programs and methods for improving the sustainability of our products and business all over the world.”

The program concluded on June 13 with a panel discussion on corporate responsibility and sustainability. Dole project partners, such as the Rainforest Alliance, Soil & More and Ostfold Research, presented existing projects that are monitoring and improving the way Dole executes farming in Costa Rica.

“One of the most impressive elements of this trip has been the trust Dole has built through transparency,” said Tobias Bandel, Managing Partner from Soil & More. “This weekend, Dole has opened up their facilities for stakeholders with differing opinions. They provided honest answers and indicated a sincere desire to continue their commitment to sustainable agriculture.”
Members from the Dole Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability team will remain in Costa Rica through the week as speakers at the GLOBE conference on the intersect of business and the environment. The GLOBE 2011 event will focus specifically on Latin America. The Dole team will be presenting the pros and cons of using sustainability as a competitive advantage and on sustainable water management.

Please visit www.dolecsr.com to learn more about the “Four Pillars of Sustainability” and Dole’s environmental programs around the world. 

About Dole Food Company
Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas and producer/shipper of organic pineapples. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

More than 28 companies with operations in the Philippines were nominated this year.  Dole and the other 10 finalists underwent a series of panel interviews with experts from different sectors of society: Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, International Labor Organization (ILO) Manila Director Lawrence Jeff Johnson, Dean Jorge Sibal of UP-School of Labor, Industrial Relations, Antonio Asper from the Federation of Free Workers and David Balangue from Makati Business Club.

Dolefil’s workplace policies and programs, characterized by management-worker harmony, quality products and processes and partnership with the community, helped the Company win against tough competitors such as Nestle Philippines, Toyota Motor Phils. and IBM Philippines.

“We are proud to be recognized for our dedication to quality business practices in the Philippines,” said Simon Denye, Dolefil VP and Managing Director. “This award is for all our employees, our business partners and the community. Without their support, we wouldn’t have earned this achievement.”

Dolefil was established in 1963 and is one of the largest integrated pineapple plantation, cannery and packaging complexes in the world. Its pineapple operations are located in various areas in the Mindanao region. The company’s dedication to quality is a commitment solidly backed by comprehensive programs for food safety, scientific crop protection programs, stringent quality control measures, state-of-the-art production and transportation technologies, continuous improvement through research and innovation and dedication to the safety of the employees, communities and the environment.

Judge Lawrence Jeff Johnson, ILO Manila Director shared, “Dole has much to be proud of.  The company encompasses everything we were looking for in our top category:  positive employee relations, community service, quality products and environmental responsibility.”

In 2009, Dolefil also received Special Citations for Social Accountability and Productivity and Quality from the same award-giving body.

About Dole Food Company
Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas and producer/shipper of organic pineapples. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

About The KAPATID Awards
The KAPATID Awards, established in 1995, are a biennial awards activity of ECOP.  The awards aim to recognize the fruitful and beneficial outcome of good and harmonious relationship of management and workers. Over the years, the KAPATID Awards evolved into a comprehensive search for best workplace policies and programs highlighted by management-worker cooperation for better labor relations; product and service quality and improved productivity; enhanced relationship with workers, their families, and the society; and the ability of the enterprise to foresee future economic and socio-political changes through long-term planning and sustainability.

“We are excited that our banana farms have earned Rainforest Alliance certification, reflecting our commitment to sustainability,” said Mike Cavallero, President of Dole’s North American Tropical and Fresh Fruit division. “Being able to add the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal to our bananas is great reminder to our customers of Dole’s commitment to environmental stewardship and the well-being of farm workers.”

Joining forces with the Rainforest Alliance to bring certified sustainable bananas to consumers in the U.S. is one part of Dole’s long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility.  The Company’s broader four pillars of sustainability focus on protecting the environment in which the Company works through reducing carbon footprint, limiting water use, conserving soils and implementing initiatives aimed at reducing, reusing and recycling packaging.

Rainforest Alliance Certified farms have met the standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), a coalition of leading conservation groups that links responsible farmers with conscientious consumers. Rainforest Alliance certification promotes sustainable farm management and incorporates a range of environmental, social and economic standards, including water and soil conservation, wildlife protection, decent wages, housing and healthcare for farm workers, and access to education for farm children.

“We are thrilled to see Rainforest Alliance Certified Dole bananas in the market,” said Sabrina Vigilante, Director of Sustainable Value Chains, Americas & Asia Pacific at the Rainforest Alliance. “We applaud Dole’s commitment to sustainability, a clear response to the growing consumer awareness and demand for products that are kind to the earth.”

Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research.

The Rainforest Alliance works with people whose livelihoods depend on the land, helping them transform the way they grow food, harvest wood and host travelers. From large multinational corporations to small, community-based cooperatives, businesses and consumers worldwide are involved in the Rainforest Alliance’s efforts to bring responsibly produced goods and services to a global marketplace where the demand for sustainability is growing steadily. For more information, visit www.rainforest-alliance.org.

This dedication is part of Dole Food Company’s larger effort to support gardens and greening in urban schools across Los Angeles—a city with one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the nation.  According to Centers for Disease Control, at least 14% of Los Angeles’ student population is considered obese.

“Our school nutrition and garden program is an important element of Dole’s overall initiative to encourage a healthy lifestyle in children that we hope will carry over into adulthood,” said Marty Ordman, Vice President, Marketing and Communications for Dole.  “Our efforts align with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign and other programs that teach children about nutrition and sustainable living in an effort to combat the growing childhood obesity epidemic that is sweeping our nation, especially in underserved urban communities.”

“We are proud to partner with Dole for today’s event,” says Debbie Levin, President, EMA.  “It’s companies like Dole and passionate environmental advocates like Emmanuelle that make our school garden program a success.  These gardens give students an opportunity to learn about sustainable living and nutrition while also linking these concepts things like reading, math and science. “

Dole Food Company works with schools to provide urban gardens and in-school salad bars.  Through the company’s efforts, students from underserved communities are able to learn how to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their diets through a unique and interactive approach.

About the Environmental Media Association

The Environmental Media Association (EMA) is a Non-Profit 501(c)3 Organization founded in 1989 by Cindy and Alan Horn and Lyn and Norman Lear.  EMA is dedicated to harnessing the power of celebrity and the media to promote sustainable lifestyles and believes through positive role modeling the entertainment community can inspire consumers to take action. The organization has grown into a diverse group of industry professionals from film, television and music dedicated to the mission of promoting environmental awareness through the entertainment business and the media.  EMA serves as a valuable link between the entertainment industry and the environmental community.  www.ema-online.org

About Dole Food Company, Inc.

Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas.. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

Roberto Vega, Dole’s Director of Sustainability, delivered a presentation to more than 300 attendees on the Company’s four pillars of sustainability (carbon footprint, water use, soil conservation and packaging) and specific initiatives in Costa Rica.

The conference was followed by a roundtable with U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica Anne Slaughter Andrew. In this roundtable, Dole and the other representatives of U.S. organizations participating in the forum discussed the objectives of a newly launched sustainability council aimed at supporting and promoting sustainability initiatives in Costa Rica. “One of the main objectives of the council is to establish a communication bridge between companies, NGOs, organizations dedicated to the protection of the environment as well as governmental organizations and to educate consumers. By sharing common interests and goals, we will define next steps and implement concrete actions in order to comply with our moral obligation to protect the planet”, said Javier del Campo, President of the sustainability council.

Dole Latin America President Jonathan Bass delivered a speech further highlighting Dole’s commitment to sustainability during a dinner attended by former U.S. Vice President and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Al Gore, representatives of the Costa Rican government and the U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica.  His remarks followed Vice President Gore’s presentation on “sustainable economic development and the new global focus”.

“This event was a unique opportunity for Dole to present and share examples of best sustainability practices with local and international stakeholders actively involved in taking up the challenges related to sustainability and Global Warming”, said Sylvain Cuperlier, Vice President of Worldwide Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at Dole.

Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research.