Dole Food Company Voted Top Company for Worker Equity Policies

Rockefeller Foundation-Supported Report Tracks Practices at the 100 Largest U.S. Food and Agriculture Companies

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dole Food Co., Inc., employing over 74,300 people, was cited as a top company for worker equity policies and practices based on its efforts to eliminate discrimination and its protection of workers’ rights to assemble, based on analysis in a new report funded by The Rockefeller Foundation. Dole also has a high rate of unionization among its workers and employs relatively few temporary workers, according to the report.

“Dole has always felt that our social responsibility programs are closely tied to our employees. That is why we focus on enhancing the working conditions of our employees and the communities in which we operate.”

The new report “Worker Equity in Food and Agriculture,” by Tellus Institute and Sustainalytics, tracks practices at the 100 largest and most influential U.S. companies, finding many trouble spots across the industry. Yet it also finds bright spots at companies demonstrating leadership in best practices.

“We are honored to be recognized as an industry leader in ensuring safe and equitable conditions for our employees,” said Sue Hagen, Senior Vice President, Human Resources for Dole Food Company. “Dole has always felt that our social responsibility programs are closely tied to our employees. That is why we focus on enhancing the working conditions of our employees and the communities in which we operate.”

The full report is available at http://www.tellus.org/publications/files/WorkerEquityinFood.pdf

Dole Food Company (www.dole.com), with 2011 revenues of $7.2 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas and producer/shipper of organic pineapples. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research.

Tellus Institute (www.Tellus.org) is a 35-year-old nonprofit research and consulting organization working for a Great Transition to a fair, just, and sustainable economy, with a staff of design specialists in corporate social responsibility, impact investing, ecological science, and community well-being.

Sustainalytics (www.Sustainalytics.com) is a global responsible investment research firm specializing in environmental, social and governance research and analysis, with 20 years of experience serving institutional investors; offices in Boston, Toronto, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Singapore, and elsewhere.