Westlake Village, California - October 01, 2001

Dole Food Company, Inc. (NYSE: DOL) has begun marketing Hass avocados, as part of their Chilean program, to the Western United States.

The Chilean Hass avocado season began in September and will run through the end of November.

"We are very excited about the addition of avocados to our existing line," stated Rich DiMartini, Vice President of Sales, Dole Deciduous/Citrus Division. "We're looking to grow this program over the next few years."

Dole Food Company, Inc., with 2000 revenues of $4.8 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.