Westlake Village, CA - March 23, 2000

Dole Food Company, Inc. (NYSE - DOL) declared its regular quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share. The dividend is payable on June 8, 2000, to shareholders of record May 18, 2000.

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