Westlake Village, California - March 21, 2002

Dole Food Company, Inc. (NYSE: DOL) Thursday declared its regular quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share. The dividend is payable on June 13, 2002 to shareholders of record May 16, 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.