FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dole aim to achieve?

Dole is committed to consistently providing safe, high-quality fresh fruit, vegetables and food products while protecting the environment in which its products are grown and processed.

How important is quality?

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.

Does Dole share information on its corporate responsibility and sustainability practices?

Yes. Dole is committed to providing transparent information on the company’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability practices. In doing so, Dole maintains an open and constructive dialogue with stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, governmental and non-governmental organisations, employees, trade unions, consumer organisations and community representatives.

These discussions address current and future issues facing the agricultural industry and yield effective solutions in overcoming related challenges.

How does Dole support education with regards to healthy eating?

Dole is committed to nutrition research and education. 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.

Dole is committed to communicating to the public the benefits of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

Dole supports these goals with a corporate philosophy of adhering to the highest ethical conduct in all its business dealings, treatment of its employees, and social and environmental policies.

Do you employ children on your farms?

No. Dole prohibits and opposes child labour. Dole operates in accordance with ILO Convention 138 regarding the minimum age and ILO Convention 182 on child labour.

Do you pay your workers the minimum wage?

Dole compensates all its employees fairly and in-line with legally stipulated requirements. In all countries in which Dole operates, employees receive at least the legally required compensation and benefits in terms of wage and social benefits.

What additional benefits do you provide to your workers?

Additional benefits can include savings and loans programs, paid time off for illness or injury, maternity leave, health insurance, social assistance, anywhere from one to four months’ extra annual pay, vacation time, retirement plans and long-term disability insurance. Benefits vary depending on location.

What is your view on employees joining unions or other similar associations?

Dole supports employees who wish to join labour unions and participate in Collective Bargaining

Freedom of Association & Right to Collective Bargaining in accordance with the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention 87 on freedom of association and the protection of the right to organise, and Convention 98 on the right to organise and participate in Collective Bargaining. Dole employees are free to join labour unions and to participate in Collective Bargaining through representatives of their own choosing.

In addition, Dole’s personal policies prohibit discrimination against workers who wish to join trade unions or any other form of association.

Do you force employees to work?

Dole does not engage in or condone forced labour of any kind. This is in accordance with ILO Convention 29 regarding forced labour and ILO Convention 105 on the abolition of forced labour.

How have you improved access to medical care for communities?

Dole has contributed in numerous ways, including the construction of hospitals in highly populated areas. We have also built health centres and dispensaries in areas where farms are concentrated, as well as supplied medical units to communities in remote areas.

What have you done in terms of education?

Where education infrastructure and learning facilities are lacking, Dole funds the construction and/or maintenance and provision of schools, grants, scholarships, training faculties, donates books and computers and offers other education-related materials. Dole also provides children with painting, music, or computer classes.

What are you doing to reduce your Carbon Footprint?

Dole has calculated its carbon footprint and has implemented programs (such as improving some refrigeration systems, using new fertilizers and providing our truck drivers with driving courses) aimed at reducing its Carbon Footprint.

In some countries, Dole is also actively participating in reforestation initiatives, which compensate for part of the greenhouse gases emitted during the production process.

What are you doing to reduce water usage?

Dole uses irrigation only when and where necessary, based on weather conditions and forecasts, crop capacity for water absorption, water availability in the soil and the “allowable” water deficit for issues such as crop resistance. Dole is also active in better controlling water use by equipping numerous packing plants with water recycling systems.

Dole has also implemented natural barriers and plant covers to protect water bodies in canals.

What are you doing to ensure you are looking after the environment?

Dole has implemented Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) across its worldwide business. In support of its environmental policy, Dole has implemented Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) – guidelines for conserving the environment through limited use of Crop Protection Products.

GAP ensures that the scope of Dole’s agricultural practices is in accordance with Integrated Crop Management (ICM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), in order to apply Crop Protection Products on an “as necessary” basis.

How do you ripen your bananas?

To get the green Dole bananas to a ripeness ready for consumption takes skill and care.

On arrival in New Zealand, the bananas are placed in specially constructed ripening rooms where the atmosphere is strictly controlled to ensure the ripening occurs at a specified rate and to a specified level of ripeness. Temperature and the humidity levels of these rooms are constantly monitored to make sure the bananas aren’t: a) ripening too quickly and b) losing too much water. A natural gas called Ethylene, that bananas produce themselves to induce ripening, is introduced to ensure evenness of ripening. It takes 4-5 days for bananas to ripen in these controlled conditions.

Why are the pineapples in New Zealand crownless?

Due to biosecurity reasons. We need to cut the crowns before sending to NZ as they could carry tiny little bugs that can be harmful to NZ environment. The crowns are then replanted and will produce new pineapples.

Are the labels on the bananas compostable?

Our current label on Ecuadorian bananas are compostable on industrial facilities.

Why is Bobby banana wrapped in plastic tape?

Bobby bananas like all fresh produce need to be traceable in case of a recall. They are required to have a barcode to differentiate them from other bananas. We are part of the Soft Plastic Recycling Program you can return the Bobby tape along with other soft plastics to designated collection points like supermarkets for a full list check their website Soft Plastic Recycling

Are Dole products GMO free?

Yes, Dole has a strict non-GMO policy.