Dole Food Company Grows School Garden Program with Help from Actress Emmanuelle Chriqui and the Environmental Media Association

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Today, Dole Food Company (NYSE:DOLE) joined the Environmental Media Association (EMA), actress and advocate Emmanuelle Chriqui and Carson High School students and officials to mark the dedication of a garden at the school facilities. Dole farmer Greg France, handed out strawberry seed packets and shared tips on sustainable farming while Chriqui spoke to students about nutrition.

"Our efforts align with First Lady Michelle Obamaa�s Leta�s Move campaign and other programs that teach children about nutrition and sustainable living in an effort to combat the growing childhood obesity epidemic that is sweeping our nation, especially in underserved urban communities."

This dedication is part of Dole Food Companya�s larger effort to support gardens and greening in urban schools across Los Angelesa"a city with one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the nation. According to Centers for Disease Control, at least 14% of Los Angelesa� student population is considered obese.

aOur school nutrition and garden program is an important element of Dolea�s overall initiative to encourage a healthy lifestyle in children that we hope will carry over into adulthood,a said Marty Ordman, Vice President, Marketing and Communications for Dole. aOur efforts align with First Lady Michelle Obamaa�s Leta�s Move campaign and other programs that teach children about nutrition and sustainable living in an effort to combat the growing childhood obesity epidemic that is sweeping our nation, especially in underserved urban communities.a

aWe are proud to partner with Dole for todaya�s event,a says Debbie Levin, President, EMA. aIta�s companies like Dole and passionate environmental advocates like Emmanuelle that make our school garden program a success. These gardens give students an opportunity to learn about sustainable living and nutrition while also linking these concepts to things like reading, math and science. a

Dole Food Company works with schools to provide urban gardens and in-school salad bars. Through the companya�s efforts, students from underserved communities are able to learn how to incorporate fruits and vegetables into their diets through a unique and interactive approach.

About the Environmental Media Association

The Environmental Media Association (EMA) is a Non-Profit 501(c)3 Organization founded in 1989 by Cindy and Alan Horn and Lyn and Norman Lear. EMA is dedicated to harnessing the power of celebrity and the media to promote sustainable lifestyles and believes through positive role modeling the entertainment community can inspire consumers to take action. The organization has grown into a diverse group of industry professionals from film, television and music dedicated to the mission of promoting environmental awareness through the entertainment business and the media. EMA serves as a valuable link between the entertainment industry and the environmental community. [ www.ema-online.org ]

About Dole Food Company

Dole, with 2010 net revenues of $6.9 billion, is the worlda�s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit [ www.dole.com ].

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Dole Food Company Grows School Garden Program with Help from Actress Emmanuelle Chriqui and the Environmental Media Association