Westlake Village, CA - October 04, 2000

Dole Food Company, Inc. (NYSE - DOL) declared its regular quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share. The dividend is payable on December 14, 2000 to shareholders of record November 27, 2000.

Dole Food Company, Inc., with 1999 revenues of approximately $5.1 billion, is the world's largest producer and marketer of high quality fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and fresh-cut flowers, and markets a growing line of packaged foods.