Westlake Village, California - October 10, 2002

Dole Food Company, Inc. (NYSE: DOL) Thursday declared its regular quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share. The dividend is payable on December 5, 2002 to shareholders of record November 7, 2002.

Dole Food Company, Inc., with 2001 revenues of $4.5 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.