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Last Updated: July 25, 2005
This website (dole.com) and its associated United States-based websites (dolenutrition.com, dolesuperfoods.com, dolefoodservice.com, and dole5aday.com) (collectively, the "Sites"), are controlled or maintained by Dole Food Company, Inc. ("Dole," "we," "us," or "our"). At Dole, we recognize that many visitors to our Sites are concerned about the information they provide to us and how we treat that information. Dole respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personally identifiable information. We have adopted this privacy policy ("Privacy Policy") to explain what information may be collected on our Sites and how such information may be used and/or shared with others. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected through our Sites and not through any other sources. This Privacy Policy is subject to the terms and conditions posted on our Sites ("Terms and Conditions"). Please review this Privacy Policy each time you visit our Sites to ensure that you have read and agree with the current policy, as it may be amended without notice. The date of our Privacy Policy is set forth at the top of the document. Any changes to this Privacy Policy will be effective immediately upon the posting of the revised Privacy Policy on our Sites. Your use of our Sites constitutes your agreement to the terms and conditions set forth in this Privacy Policy.
YOUR INFORMATION AND HOW WE USE IT
We respect the privacy of all of our on-line guests. Our web server recognizes and records certain non-personal information about visitors. Currently, this information may include the type of browser used (e.g., Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer), the type of operating system (e.g., Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows XP, Linux, Macintosh) and the domain name or ip address of the visitor's Internet service provider (e.g., America Online, Compuserve, Earthlink), the number of users that visit a specific page on our Sites and the character and duration of such visits. However, in the future, we may collect other non-personal information as new technology for the Internet becomes available. Non-personal information is used only for internal review purposes such as tracking the total number of visitors to our Sites on an aggregate, non-personally identifiable, basis. This information may be used to help analyze site traffic and improve our services. We may also aggregate such information to create statistical data and we may share that information with potential advertisers, partners, affiliates and other third parties. At no point, however, do we access any personally identifiable facts in this process.
We do not require visitors to our Sites to register or provide information in order to view our Sites. However, in certain circumstances, you may be asked to provide us with some specific information about yourself in order to use or access certain features on our Sites, such as sweepstakes, contests, trivia games, rebate and coupon offers, surveys and other promotions; to receive information from us in the future, such as newsletters; or to fulfill a request or order for publications, merchandise or other information or materials. Such information may include contact information (such as your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address), as well as other information we may require to carry out certain features of our Sites (such as demographic information, including age, gender, hobbies, preferences, etc.). We do not collect personally identifiable information from visitors to our Sites unless it is provided to us voluntarily and knowingly. The personally identifiable information you submit will be used: (i) to carry out your requests and respond to your inquiries, and (ii) as otherwise disclosed at the point where such information is collected or in any additional terms and conditions applicable to the particular feature of our Sites. To accomplish this, we may share your personally identifiable information with third parties that perform functions on our behalf (or on behalf of our partners) or who have joined us in providing promotions and activities, such as companies (including retailers) or individuals that deliver packages, fulfill orders, participate in our promotions, administer our promotions, provide diet and nutrition information, provide marketing or promotional assistance, process credit card payments, analyze data or provide customer service, but such information will be shared only to the extent these third parties need such information to perform their functions.
Your personally identifiable information (except any credit card information provided) may also be used by us or shared with our subsidiaries and affiliates ("Dole Affiliates"). However, you will always have the opportunity to instruct us not to share your information with Dole Affiliates by contacting us at the address listed below.
We may also share your personally identifiable information with other companies that are not affiliated with Dole and are not business partners of Dole, but would like to provide you with additional products and/or services that we think may be of interest to you. However, your personally identifiable information will not be provided to these unaffiliated third parties without prior approval from you either through an "opt-in" choice at the point of collection or a response to a notification from Dole seeking approval to share your personally identifiable information with an unaffiliated third party. If you change your mind about the permission you have given through an "opt-in" choice, you may change your permission instructions by contacting us at the address provided below.
COOKIES
In addition to the non-personally identifiable information described above, we may also send you "cookies." Cookies are small text files from a website that are stored on your hard drive. These small text files make using a website more convenient by saving your passwords and preferences for you. Cookies themselves do not contain any personally identifiable information. We may analyze the information derived from these cookies and match such information with data provided by you or another party. We may provide our analysis and certain non-personally identifiable information to potential partners, advertisers (who may use this information to provide advertisements tailored to your interests) or other third parties, but we will not disclose any personally identifiable information, except as provided in this Privacy Policy.
You have the option of deciding whether or not to accept a cookie by resetting your browser to notify you whenever a cookie is being sent to your hard drive. You may also delete a cookie manually from your hard drive. Please note, however, that some parts of our Sites may not function properly or may be considerably slower if you refuse to accept a cookie or choose to disable your cookies settings.
FURTHER DISCLOSURE
We reserve the right to disclose any personally identifiable or non-personally identifiable information if we are required to do so by law or if we reasonably believe that such action is necessary in order to: (i) fulfill a government request; (ii) conform with the requirements of the law or to comply with legal process served on us; (iii) protect or defend the legal rights or property of Dole, Dole Affiliates, our Sites or its users; or (iv) in an emergency to protect the health and safety of our Sites' users or the general public.
CHILDREN UNDER 13
Some activities on our Sites are designed specifically for children, which are collected in clearly designated sections of the Sites ("Kids' Section"). We understand the concerns of parents regarding privacy, especially when it comes to protecting information collected from children, and we strongly encourage parents to supervise and participate in their children's online activities and consider using parental control tools available through online services and software. These tools help parents maintain an Internet environment appropriate for children.
Dole has developed Kids' Section of its Sites to be fun and educational - and safe - place for children to visit, and therefore, the Kids' Section of our Sites are operated in compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA") and supports the guidelines issued by the Council of Better Business Bureaus' Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU). We do not request children under the age of 13 to provide more personally identifiable information than is reasonably necessary to participate in an activity on our Sites. Whenever we collect personally identifiable information from children, we do so in compliance with the parental consent requirements of COPPA. This means that if we determine that a visitor is under the age of 13 (we may ask for the visitor's birth date or age to do this), the personally identifiable information provided will not be used or maintained without the consent of the child's parent or guardian. In certain circumstances, we may require children under the age of 13 to provide us with the contact information for their parent or legal guardian. We will use this information to (i) notify such parents or legal guardians of their children's participation in an activity on our Sites and of our privacy practices, and/or (ii) seek consent to their children's participation in an activity on our Sites. Without his/her parent's or legal guardian's permission, a child under the age of 13 may not be able to participate in certain activities.
For example, in a Kids' Section, we may provide a special e-mail address so that children can send messages to us or to one of our fruit or vegetable characters. A non-commercial, informational message may be sent back to the child. We do not and will not use or share your child's e-mail address for any purpose other than responding to the message your child has sent. The Kids' Section may contain a "chat room" where children can participate in a conversation with one of our fruit or vegetable characters. A "screen name" will be collected from your child to be used during the course of the chat session. This screen name is not personally identifiable to your child. Furthermore, the child is the only human participant in the chat session. The chat session is not open to other participants and the character's responses are provided by a software program. Once the child closes the chat session, the screen name is immediately deleted and is not stored or maintained in any way. Occasionally, we sponsor educational, recipe or other contests for children on our Sites. In order to enter the contest via our Sites, the child may be required to provide an e-mail and/or mailing address. Before allowing the child to participate in the contest, we will obtain the consent of his/her parent or legal guardian. This personal information is used solely to enable us to notify the contest winners and will not be used or shared for any other purpose.
The Kids' Section may offer visitors the opportunity to purchase products or educational materials. Although on-line ordering of products is available from sections of our Sites directed toward adult visitors, products or materials may not be ordered on-line directly from web pages directed toward children. However, mail-in order forms may be provided for printing out. Children who access the pages providing the opportunity to print out order forms are encouraged to obtain their parent's permission before disclosing any personal information or making a purchase decision.
We may also collect a child's name and e-mail address to the extent necessary, as required or permitted by law, to protect against liability or to protect the security of our Sites. Information collected for these reasons will not be used for any other purposes.
Dole does not currently give or sell any personally identifiable information collected from children under the age of 13 on our Sites to anyone, including affiliated companies. If we propose to share information with other parties, we will notify the child's parent or legal guardian and will state with whom we propose sharing information and why. The child's parent or legal guardian must consent to the disclosure of the child's personal information before it can be shared. Parents may consent to Dole's collection and use of their child's personal information without consenting to the disclosure of the information to third parties, including affiliated companies.
A parent or legal guardian can request that we remove, change or refuse further submission of information relating to a child under the age of 13 by sending an e-mail to dole_consumercenter@na.dole.com or by contacting us at the address listed below. Any such request must contain the child's name, address and e-mail address so we can locate such child's information.
OTHER SITES
Our Sites may contain links to other websites that we do not control or maintain. We are not responsible for the privacy practices employed by these other websites. We encourage you to note when you leave our Sites and to read the privacy statements of such other websites before submitting any personally identifiable information. In addition, our Sites may link to websites owned or operated by subsidiaries or companies affiliated with Dole ("Affiliated Sites"). Please note that the Affiliated Sites are subject to the privacy policies posted on those sites.
KEEPING YOUR INFORMATION SECURE
We have reasonable and appropriate electronic and physical security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control. Please be advised, however, that while we strive to protect your personally identifiable information and privacy, we cannot guarantee or warrant the security of any information you disclose or transmit to us and cannot be responsible for the theft, destruction, or inadvertent disclosure of your personally identifiable information.
TRANSFER OF ASSETS
As we continue to develop our business, we may sell or purchase assets. If another entity acquires us or all or substantially all of our assets, personally identifiable information, non-personally identifiable information, and any other information that we have collected about the users of our Sites may be transferred to such entity as one of the transferred assets. Also, if any bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding is brought by or against us, all such information may be considered an asset of ours and as such may be sold or transferred to third parties.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions or comments about our privacy practices, or if you wish to review, amend or delete any personally identifiable information you have provided or if you wish to modify the permission you have given us regarding use of your personally identifiable information, you can contact us at:
Dole Food Company, Inc.
One Dole Drive
Westlake Village, California 91362-7300
Attention: Consumer Center
Phone: 1-800-232-8888
E-mail: dole_consumercenter@na.dole.com
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Last Updated: July 25, 2005
This website (dole.com) and its associated United States-based websites (dolenutrition.com, dolesuperfoods.com, dolefoodservice.com, and dole5aday.com) (collectively, the "Sites"), are controlled or maintained by Dole Food Company, Inc. ("Dole," "we," "us," or "our"). By using any of our Sites, participants ("Participant", "you") agree to be bound by each of the terms and conditions set forth below and any amendments thereto ("Terms and Conditions"). Please review these Terms and Conditions from time to time to ensure that you have read and agree with the current policy, as it may be amended without notice. The date of our Terms and Conditions is set forth at the top of the document. Any changes to these Terms and Conditions will be effective immediately upon the posting of the revised Terms and Conditions on our Sites. Please note that your use of certain features of our Sites may be subject to additional terms and conditions. By using these features, you also agree to be bound by such additional terms and conditions.
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
All materials on our Sites, including, without limitation, names, logos, trademarks, images, text, columns, graphics, photographs, illustrations, artwork, audio clips, video clips, software, and other elements making up the Sites (collectively, "Content") are protected by copyrights and other intellectual property rights owned and controlled by us, by our affiliates, or by other parties that have licensed or otherwise provided their material to us. Except as specifically provided herein or elsewhere on the Sites, no Content may be copied, reproduced, republished, downloaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way, or otherwise used for any purpose, by any person or entity, without the prior express written permission of Dole. You may not add, delete, distort, or otherwise modify the Content. Any unauthorized attempt to modify any Content, to defeat or circumvent our security features, or to utilize our Sites for any purpose other than their intended purposes is strictly prohibited.
Dole grants Participant a non-exclusive, non-assignable, non-transferable, and revokable license ("License") to use and display, for personal and noncommercial use only, one copy of any material provided on our Sites specifically for the purpose of downloading by Participant ("Downloaded Material"). Participant agrees to maintain all copyright and other notices contained in such Downloaded Material. Participant further agrees not to alter or modify the Downloaded Material in any way. This License may not be assigned, transferred, or sublicensed by Participant to any other party and may be revoked by Dole at any time.
LINKED SITES
Our Sites may contain links to other websites that are not controlled or maintained by Dole. You agree that we will not be responsible for the content, advertising, privacy policies, products, services, or other materials on or available from such linked websites. Use of linked websites is at your own risk. We encourage you to note when you leave our Sites and to read the terms of use of such other websites. In addition, our Sites may link to websites owned or operated by Dole subsidiaries or other affiliated companies ("Affiliated Sites"). Please note that the Affiliated Sites are subject to the terms of use and policies posted on those sites.
RULES OF CONDUCT
By using any of our Sites, Participant accepts the following rules of conduct:
Participant will not post to or transmit through our Sites any material that would violate or infringe in any way upon the rights of others, including but not limited to any threatening, harmful, defamatory, obscene or pornographic material, or any material that violates federal or local law or regulation, or would give rise to civil or criminal liability.
Participant shall not use our Sites to post, upload, or otherwise make available any material protected by a proprietary right, including but not limited to copyright and/or trademark or other third party right without express written permission of the owner of such right.
SUBMISSIONS
Any notes, postings, ideas, suggestions, concepts, or other material submitted through our Sites via e-mail or any means that we may create or provide in the future will become the property of Dole throughout the world and we shall be entitled (without compensation to any party) to use such material, either commercially or non-commercially, in perpetuity in any form and manner in any media, whether known or hereafter devised, and you will not have any claim against us with respect to such use. You agree that, in the event you make a submission to us: (i) it is original with you and accurate, (ii) it does not violate, and its use will not violate, the rights of any third party or any applicable law or ordinance, and (iii) you will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that any such submission is free from viruses, worms, trojan horses, or other items of a destructive nature. You further agree not to use our Sites, the Content, or any products or services included on or available through our Sites for any unlawful purpose.
PRIVACY
We are committed to respecting your privacy and protecting your personally identifiable information. Any information we may collect regarding users of our Sites is subject to our Privacy Policy, the full text of which is available by clicking here.
INFRINGEMENT AND REGULATORY COMPLAINTS
We will cooperate with any law enforcement authorities and comply with any judicial order requesting or directing us to disclose the identity of anyone uploading, downloading, or posting materials, or otherwise using our Sites in violation of any applicable federal, state, or local laws.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
OUR SITES AND ALL CONTENT AND SERVICES INCLUDED ON OR AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR SITES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" FOR YOUR USE. YOU AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF OUR SITES IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. DOLE AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, PARTNERS, AGENTS, AFFILIATES, LICENSORS AND ADVERTISERS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. ALTHOUGH WE INTEND THAT THE CONTENT OF OUR SITES BE ACCURATE, COMPLETE, AND CURRENT, WE MAKE NO WARRANTY: (I) THAT USE OF OUR SITES OR ANY CONTENT HEREIN (INCLUDING ANY SOFTWARE) WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, ACCURATE, SECURE OR ERROR FREE; (II) THAT OUR SITES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME OR LOCATION; (III) THAT ANY ERRORS ON OUR SITES WILL BE CORRECTED; OR (IV) THAT THE SERVERS ON WHICH OUR SITES AND CONTENT ARE AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.
THE CONTENT PROVIDED ON OUR SITES IS MEANT FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED TO SUBSTITUTE FOR ANY TYPE OF MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR A REGISTERED DIETITIAN IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR DIET, MEDICAL CONDITION, OR THE INFORMATION PRESENTED HEREIN.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL DOLE, OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES, PARTNERS, AGENTS, AFFILIATES, LICENSORS AND ADVERTISERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES (EVEN IF SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES), INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY LOST PROFITS, REVENUE, OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR LOSS OF COMPUTER PROGRAMS OR INFORMATION ARISING FROM (I) YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE OUR SITES, OR (II) CONTENT AND/OR SERVICES INCLUDED ON OR AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR SITES.
EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS
Some jurisdictions do not permit the exclusion of certain warranties or the limitation or exclusion of liability. Therefore, the above disclaimer of warranties and/or limitation of liability may not apply to you.
INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to defend, indemnify and hold Dole, and its subsidiaries, partners, agents, affiliates, licensors and advertisers and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, agents and representatives harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from your breach of your agreements under these Terms and Conditions.
INTERNATIONAL USE
We make no representations that the Content on our Sites is appropriate or available for use in locations outside the United States. Those who choose to access our Sites from locations outside the Untied States do so at their own initiative and are responsible for complying with all local laws and regulations regarding online conduct and acceptable content.
MISCELLANEOUS
These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal, state, and local courts located within the State of California, County of Los Angeles. All of these Terms and Conditions shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be modified or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary and the remaining provisions shall be enforced. These Terms and Conditions constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto, and supercede any other agreement, promise, or practice between the parties relating to the subject matter hereto. We reserve the right to terminate your access to and ability to use our Sites (or any portion thereof), at any time (with or without notice). No waiver by either party of any right hereunder shall constitute a waiver of this or any other right.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions or comments about these Terms and Conditions or our privacy practices, or if you wish to review or amend any personally identifiable information you have provided, you can contact us at:
Dole Food Company, Inc.
One Dole Drive
Westlake Village, California 91362-7300
Attention: Consumer Center
Phone: 1-800-232-8888
E-Mail: dole_consumercenter@na.dole.com
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Quality Control
Dole's dedication to quality is a commitment solidly backed by: stringent quality control measures, novel and state-of-the-art production and transportation technologies, continuous improvement through research and innovation, and dedication to the safety of our employees, communities and the environment. DOLE Organic Bananas comply with the very same quality standards as the conventional bananas, with the difference that they have been grown organically.
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Food Safety
DOLE Organic Fruits are packed under strict sanitary supervision. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are applied at every packing station on our own organic farms. Growers are instructed on achieving these same standards with our help.
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Vision and Goal
| It is obvious that with the organic banana and pineapple continuous organic research programs in place, Dole is able to fine-tune and implement more natural control procedures in the conventionally grown crops too, which are already grown under the internationally recognized environmental ISO 14000 standards. Dole was the first company of scale to be awarded the ISO 14000 certificate for all their growing areas in the tropics. All of this is part of the continuous improvement, which Dole sets as its never-ending goal to better serve the environment and the final consumers every day. |  |
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Carbon Neutral Program
'Carbon neutral,' as applied to the banana and pineapple product supply chains, means that the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted to produce, pack, transport and distribute the fruit will be offset by mitigation practices which increase the capture of CO2 in order to achieve a 'neutral' balance. These practices entail new, more efficient transportation methods, changes to agricultural processes to reduce CO2 emissions, and partnering with local farmers to implement preservation and reforestation programs.
David A. DeLorenzo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dole Food Company, Inc., stated, "The environment is a concern for all of us. Companies, consumers, governments and non-governmental organizations should endeavor to promote and adopt new production and distribution methods and consumption behavior in order to reverse harmful trends to the environment. As the world's largest producer and distributor of fruits and vegetables, Dole is determined to take the lead in its sector and the agreement with FONAFIFO is a good starting point."
Roberto Dobles, PhD., Minister of the Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, stated, "Dole is such an important company in the production of bananas and pineapples on a global level that we are very enthusiastic that Standard Fruit made the decision to strive to become a carbon neutral company here in Costa Rica and join our efforts to become the first carbon neutral country in the world by 2021. With this agreement, Dole demonstrates its enormous capacity to innovate and develop processes that will be reflected in benefits to the environment. I hope that this initiative will be followed by others in the private sector, so that we may unite efforts in favor of the environment."
Sylvain Cuperlier, Vice President, Director of Worldwide Corporate Social Responsibility of Dole Food Company, Inc., stated, "Dole has long been recognized for its environmental programs. Today, we want to utilize the Company's environmental management systems and our staff's expertise to produce and market 'carbon neutral' bananas and pineapples. To this end, we want to pull together all resources available within our Company and partner further with recognized organizations. Dole's achievements in this area will come from working relationships with our employees, independent producers, labor representatives, government, academia, NGOs, customers, and suppliers."
This project in Costa Rica will include the Organic Pineapple Farm who produces our "YourChoice" Organic Pineapples so they will become Organic C-Neutral Pineapples in the near future.
Other Dole Organic operations, as Don Pedro Farm in La Guajira, Colombia, have started with the efforts to compensate the carbon emissions. In June, during the celebration of Planet´s Day, all vehicules drivers planted trees to compensate the 5.5 Tons of CO2 genereated, as an average, by each vehicule each year. Thus, every vehicule used in Don Pedro Farm is now Carbon Compensated until next Planet´s Day.
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Company Info
Dole Food Company's worldwide team of growers, packers, processors, shippers and employees is committed to consistently providing safe, high-quality fresh fruit, vegetables, and food products, along with fresh-cut flowers, while protecting the environment in which its products are grown and processed. Dole'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 our employees, communities and the environment. Dole is committed to nutrition education to communicate to the public the health benefits of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Dole is a founding member of the National 5 A Day for Better Health Program and is a leader in developing technology-based nutrition education programs for children.Close
Organic Program
Dole’s Certified Organic Banana Program is at the forefront of organic agriculture, implementing natural growing procedures, and meeting the consumer demand for the ever-growing organic trend of quality products.
As consumer interest in organic products rises and new organic production and marketing systems keep evolving, organic agriculture continues to rapidly expand in the United States.
As defined by the Organic Trade Association, organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on using minimal off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony. Basically, organic agriculture puts the focus on improving soil fertility through the use of mineral and natural fertilizers and enhancing biological cycles for natural insect and disease control.
At the forefront of this organic trend is Dole’s Certified Organic Banana Program. In addition to using conventional agricultural production methods, Dole has been exploring alternative growing methods to provide consumers with a choice on how their bananas are grown.
“We see the organic industry as a growing market with good opportunities to learn methods for growing produce in a more earth-friendly manner,” said Frans Wielemaker, Director of the Organic Program for Dole in Latin America.
Researching topics from soil fertility, biological disease and insect control, Dole in many ways acts as a leader in the agricultural industry. One example is how the company seeks alternatives to synthetic chemicals in their production methods even for conventional bananas. Since the 1980s, Dole’s integrated pest management (IPM) natural controls have been integrated with cultural methods to reduce the use of chemical products for crop production and some of the IPM techniques have eliminated use of some chemicals altogether. Dole continues to investigate new, non-chemical methods to protect the crops and implement them as fast as possible in any of their farms.
Dole produces organically-grown bananas in its own farms and sources from independent organic growers located in Honduras, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Colombia and Peru for the European and North American Markets and recently in the Philippines for the Asian Market. 100% of Dole’s organic bananas are certified organic and follow the organic production standards as set by the law in the US, EU or Japan.
Dole is also working on an Organic Pineapple Program, a limited volume of which is now available in US, Canada and Europe. Consumers can find these under Dole’s “YOURCHOICE” label.
Dole organic bananas are distributed throughout the USA, Japan and Europe and are sold through the Dole Sales offices. Dole’s organic bananas and pineapple are backed by Dole’s dedication to quality control measures and to the safety of their employees, communities and environment.
The opportunities for improving organic growing methods are endless, and Dole continues to fine-tune and implement more natural control procedures for their conventionally grown crops in addition to their bananas and pineapples. They are determined to maintain their organic agriculture efforts as long as there is a market demand, so keep on eating those bananas, and Dole will keep on growing them - the healthy and organic way, for you and our earth.
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In this section we add the most common questions made in reference to Organic Products and Certification.
Q- What is Organic Agriculture?
A- The USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) defines organic agriculture as "an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, or enhance ecological harmony. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people." (NOSB, 1997).
“Organic agriculture, as defined by IFOAM, includes all agricultural systems that promote environmentally, socially and economically sound production of food and fibers. Recycling nutrients and strengthening natural processes helps to maintain soil fertility and ensure successful production. By respecting the natural capacity of plants, animals and the landscape, it aims to optimize quality in all aspects of agriculture and the environment. OA dramatically reduces external inputs by refraining from the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, Genetically Modified Organisms and pharmaceuticals. Pests and diseases are controlled with naturally occurring means and substances according to both traditional as well as modern scientific knowledge, increasing both agricultural yields and disease resistance. OA adheres to globally accepted principles, which are implemented within local socio-economic, climatic and cultural settings.
Q- How is the Organic Integrity of a farm or an operation controlled?
A- A third party Accredited Certification Entity visits the farm or the operation at least once a year and verifies the fulfillment of the operation or farm with the applicable organic standards.
Q- How do Organic Farms Control Pests?
A- As it states in its definition, the primary goal of the organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of plants. A good plant nutrition program is the baseline for a good pest control. A strong and healthy plant will perform better against diseases, insects and/or weeds.
If necessary, mechanical and physical controls can take place to fight against a pest. Some natural and/or mineral substances are allowed in section 601 of the 7 CFR Part 205 to be applied to the plants to protect them.
Q- How do Organic Farms handle Plant Nutrition?
A- As all plants, organic crops need an appropriated proportion of minerals and a good soil for a good growth and development.
Soil and tissue lab analysis are needed to determinate the necessary amount of each element (mineral) for the plant.
Natural and mineral sources are allowed in organic fertilization when:
- They are not obtained or are not sub products of GMO´s.
- Its extraction and/or production method meet the 7 CFR Part 205 criteria.
- All inert ingredients are included in the EPA List 4
- Are not included on §205.602 from 7 CFR Part 205
Q- How can we recognize the organic products at the retail store and/or supermarket?
A- The 7 CFR Part 205 in section 311 shows the logo that the organic products produced according to the Rule, will exhibit in their packaging or labels.
Therefore, organic products can be identified from those who are not organic certified.
Q- What does the three digits code on the Dole Organic Bananas stands for?
A- These three digits are called Dole Producer Code (DPC). The DPC identifies an organic producer or a group of small organic producers. By the use of the DPC in the fruit’s sticker, the bananas can be identified in the shelves of the retail store even when they are taken off the carton box.
By entering the three digits code in the doleorganic.com website, the origin of the fruit can be known. There is a page for each organic producer or group of small organic producers, with pictures, general information and a link to access the satellite image of the farm with the use of Google Earth.
Q- Is there a difference in terms of flavor, between and organic fruit and a conventional fruit?
A- In Bananas and Pineapples there is no a clear difference between both organic and conventional, but some people do feel a difference as they let us know in the feedback section of our website, please take a look to the comments received from our consumers at: www.doleorganic.com/index.html#feedback.
Q- Why is Ethylene approved for ripening organic bananas?
A- Ethylene is a natural occurring gas and it's synthetic version is identical. Ethylene is approved by the organic regulations in North America, Canada, The European community, Japan, etc. Ethylene when injected in a ripening chamber with pallets of green bananas will trigger the ripening process of the bananas,... just as what happens in nature on the tree or in the field. It can be considered artificial only in the sense that the bananas which are harvested young and thus green are put in contact with the gas by men in a chamber. The process itself and resulting transformation of starch in to sugars is exactly the same as in nature. If bananas would be harvested ripe from the tree and thus yellow they would not be able to travel to the markets without becoming puree during the journey, rot, attract fruit flies, become vinegar, etc.
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Inside Work by Andrew Wooldridge Consumer Quality Control Ethics Gone Bananas. "...bananas can teach a lesson or two about ethics." |
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Connected Collective Innovation by DMW Product Life Stories "...By providing more transparency, consumers gain access to background information which helps them learn about the products they shop for." |
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Chews Wise by Samuel Fromartz: The Transparent Banana? " Dole revealed a shape of things to come in the food market - Transparency! - by allowing customers to see where their bananas come from." |
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Groovy Green by Steve Balogh The Transparent Banana? "...transparency is beginning to show up in the grocery store. What a great concept. |
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MortarBlog Do you know where your bananas come from? " They go a step further by outlining their actions and intentions to improve their leadership in organic agriculture." |
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Digital Media Wire by Rohit Bhargava Dole´s Organic Bananas and the Importance of Backstories "...the effort represents a great example of new thinking that product marketers are using to capitalize on the global trend towards ethical consumerism..." |
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American Feastīs Sustainable Food Blog by Tim Tango Look up your Food Online "... This is an ingenious use of the Internet and one that should be replicated..." |
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Typepad by Amelia Torode Talking Green Bananas "...it's a really smart piece of creative thinking...educated consumers are still looking for "the story behind..." |
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chroma by Dino Demopoulos Transmedia Bananas "...it's pretty smart. And it gives you an excuse to use the phrase "transmedia bananas". |
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Chews Wise by Samuel Fromartz Bananas with a Face. "...Now they've taken the program further, allowing for interaction with the farm." |
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Treehugger by Kara DiCamillo Do you know where your banana has been? "We find this a very interesting concept that seems extremely beneficial for consumers." |
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Comments received
October 19, 2007
Joe Molnar
USA
"Great job on providing organic bananas for all to enjoy. It feels good to buy an organic banana from a trusted name..."
October 7, 2007
Ronda Fisher
Canada
"Thank you for the fascinating website - I think your farm identification program is excellent. "
October 5, 2007
Danny and Margaret
USA
"We have just enjoyed a banana from your farm and want to tell you how much we loved the taste. Thank you for joining the Dole family of producers who bring us the highest quality products from around the world. Best wishes ... D & M"
October 4, 2007
Sarah Johnson
Canada
"I just got back to my desk from a rather chilly run and noticed that my organic banana had a sticker on it that said I could see the farm this banana came from online. Curious, I logged on to see pictures from the Molina family farm in Ecuador. I appreciate knowing where my food comes from and to see pictures of the farm was really cool. Thanks for the information (and the yummy banana!)."
September 13, 2007
Kari Goff
USA
"I LOVE Dole organic bananas. My kids eat them like they are going out of style. Many days my daughter will ask for a "nani" for breakfast and lunch!"
August 9, 2007
John Briggs
United States
"I bought some of your organic bananas from Equador and I just wanted to let you know how cool it was to be able to learn something about the farm and view photos by going to doleorganic.com. GREAT IDEA! I will definitely continue to purchase organic bananas from Dole. All the best, John Briggs "
August 6, 2007
Gundolf Stein
Germany
" Ladies and Gentleman,
thank you very much for your fantastic bananas from farm 100 in Ecuador.
All the best to your staff and good luck in produicing the very tasty fruits.
With my best regards from Germany."
July 18, 2007
Mark Robinson
United States
" I would buy bananas every so often. One day I pick up some organic bananas - what a difference in flavor. The banana taste is much more noticable and they are so sweet. Every morning I now have a banana and I always find myself saying "wow that was a great banana." Keep up the great work!"
July 6, 2007
Julie
United States
" I really enjoyed visiting your website today! It's important to me to know where my food comes from, that it treads lightly on the earth and that the people working the land are treated with respect. Putting a face and a place behind the banana I purchased this week at my neighborhood Trader Joe's makes me feel more connected with the people who grew the fruit. It makes me feel the responsibility of my purchasing power and that I have made a good choice. Thank you for this!"
June 21, 2007
Irene Alatzakis
Canada
" I have always been extremely motivated to buy organic bananas, and especially since I have visited banana plantations in Costa Rica and had the priviledge to learn first hand about the cost of the pesticide laden blue bags. I have been buying organic bananas for over 5 years and today my banana was extra special because the Dole sticker informed me about the website enabling me to visit the farm of origin! What an amazing idea. Congratulations Dole for such forward thinking. This is not only a great marketing idea, it resonates completely with doing what is right for the people and wildlife of the banana producing countries."
May 24, 2007
Amanda Shepard
United States
" Thank you for what you are doing. Thank you for giving consumers the opportunity to provide aid and hope with our choices. Thank you also for this site that allows us to get a glimpse of the lives of those growing the bananas and the beautiful land on which the bananas are grown. I will think of the people and the beautiful landscape at Don Pedro Farm every time I eat a Dole organic banana. Be so proud of what you are doing!! "
Enter here to access Don Pedro Employees answer to Amanda´s comment.
Document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - Click here to download
April 24, 2007
Gerard Kenney
United States
"Congratulations on your effort to provide organic produce on a large scale. The bananas are great. I buy them because I want to support organic farming, which is healthier for the consumer and the environment. And also for the taste, which is superior, naturally sweeter and with a firmer texture.
It is also great to be able to visit the farms via the net and learn something of the history of your efforts. It puts a human face on your company. Keep up the good work. May the good Lord grant you success.
Gerard Kenney"
April 16, 2007
Kathy Mochel
United States
" Thank you Dole for your efforts in protecting our families and our planet. Thank you for protecting your employees from chemical fertilizers and pesticides. I personally think the organic bananas taste better : ). Please keep up the effort! Kathy, Mother of 20 month old and buyer of organic foods."
March 27, 2007
Keith Hiestand
United States
" Thanks for the opportunity to see photos and learn about the organic bananas farms supplying Dole. Farm code look up sticker is a great idea. Fun to show kids where their bananas are coming from "
February 28, 2007
Yee Kwan
Hong Kong
" I think dole is great!"
February 27, 2007
Jennifer Buscema
United States
" Dear Dole, thank you for caring for our environment, your employees, and your consumers. I admire your responsible business practices, and will always feel good about buying your products because of them. "
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