Company-founded foundation recognized at home and abroad for excellence in education, social practices

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. - Saturday, August 23rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Dole Food Company’s DALE Foundation, the organization responsible for corporate responsibility projects for the DOLE group of companies in Ecuador and Peru, was recognized by the Municipality of Guayaquil, Ecuador for the Company’s activities in support of education.

The award was presented on July 23 at Guayaquil’s city hall by the Vice Mayor of the city, Mrs. Domenica Tabacchi and received by Maria Eugenia Castro, Executive Director of the DALE Foundation.

“We are so honored to receive this recognition,” said Ms. Castro, Executive Director of the DALE Foundation. “Dole and the Dale Foundation have done such great work together here and this relationship should be held up as a model for other companies to build and support these types of social programs.”

Earlier this year Dole received recognition by the State Department of the United States as the DALE Foundation was selected among 12 finalists for the "Secretary of State's 2013 Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE)," a Recognition Award granted by the U.S. Embassies around the world for the work of companies in Social Responsibility.

During the award ceremony, U.S. Ambassador in Ecuador, Mr. Adam Namm emphasized the social actions taken by DOLE, expressing admiration in a U.S. business doing such good work in Ecuador.

The award event was attended by members of the DALE Foundation Board and was accepted by Patricio Gutiérrez, President of the DALE Foundation.

“Since our early days, Dole has long been involved in enhancing the communities in which we operate,” said Rudy Amador, Dole’s Director of Quality, Environmental & Food Safety Affairs. “Its part of who we are and we continue to implement a variety of social responsibility policies and programs that generate sustainable development in these regions.”

Dole launched the DALE Foundation in 2001 in Ecuador and in 2008 in Peru. It was founded on the philosophy that positive social outcomes should be a goal shared by the parent company, the banana producers and the community alike. Dale programs' scope includes all areas where the company operates. Throughout the years, the Foundation has been successful in countless efforts, including running 22 health clinics, more than one million health services that includes preventive programs and nutrition lectures that benefit 13,000 families, most of whom are agricultural workers and their family members who formerly didn’t have access to healthcare. The Foundation has also built two elementary schools where it provides free education for 750 children in areas with a high concentration of banana farm workers.

About DALE Foundation

DALE Foundation designs and operates programs of corporate social responsibility for subsidiaries of Dole in Ecuador and Peru. Its operations are funded by Dole and independent banana producers.

About Dole Food Company

Dole Food Company, Inc., is one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com.

Contacts

Dole Food Company

US Contact: William Goldfield

818-874-4647

william.goldfield@dole.com

EU Contact: Xavier Roussel,

+49 (0) 40-32-90-60

xavier.roussel@dole.com

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