Founded in Hawaii in 1851, Dole Food Company, Inc. is the world’s leading producer, marketer and distributor of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, including an expanding line of value-added products. Dole is one of the world’s largest producers of bananas and pineapples, and an industry leader in packaged fruit products, packaged salads and fresh-packed vegetables. Dole is an industry leader in nutrition education and research, and is committed to communicating to the public the health benefits of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. For the fiscal year ended January 1, 2011, Dole generated revenues of approximately $6.9 billion and operating income of approximately $194 million. At January 1, 2011 we had total assets of $4.3 billion.

Dole’s most significant products hold the number 1 or number 2 positions in their respective markets. The DOLE brand was introduced in 1933 and is one of the most recognized brands for fresh and packaged produce in the United States, as evidenced by Dole’s 68% unaided consumer brand awareness — more than twice that of Dole’s nearest competitor, according to a major global research company (Millward Brown).

Dole has built a fully-integrated operating platform as a result of which our nearly 200 products are sourced, grown, processed, marketed and distributed in more than 90 countries. Our products are produced both directly on Dole-owned or leased land and in Dole owned factories and through associated producer and independent grower arrangements under which we provide varying degrees of farming, harvesting, packing, storing, shipping and marketing services. We use our global refrigerated supply chain that features the largest dedicated refrigerated containerized fleet in the world, as well as an extensive network of packaging, ripening and distribution centers, to deliver fresh Dole products to market.