New Office to Monitor Dole Environmental Policy

Dole Food Company, Inc. is expanding its efforts to monitor environmental initiatives at its farms worldwide with the formation of a new office, the company announced. The Westlake Village-based company is replacing its office of Corporate Social Responsibility with the Office of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability. Three initiatives the new office will focus on will be carbon footprint reduction, soil conservation and water management. The office will also continue to support other programs, such as infrastructure development, nutrition and health initiatives, micro-financing and community development, support of schools and education programs and sports and cultural events. “Most of these programs do not only contribute to better protect the environment but they also contribute to decrease our production costs,” Dole President and CEO David DeLorenzo said. The company cited several environmentally-friendly actions it is taking, including leading reforestation initiatives, launching a new Millennium Packing Plant that consumes about 80 percent less water than conventional packing plants, and establishing recycling programs.