DOLE FOOD COMPANY

'Dole Food Company, Inc.' is an American-based agricultural multinational corporation headquartered in Westlake Village, California and is the leading grower and packer of such food items as bananas, pineapples (fresh and packaged), grapes, strawberries, and other fresh and frozen fruits. It is a leader in ready-to-eat packaged salads and other vegetables. Dole was founded in 1901 in Hawaii as 'Hawaiian Pineapple Company' by James Dole, who opened his first pineapple plantation in the central plateau of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Today the company does business in over 90 countries and takes in upwards of $5.3 billion in annual revenue. It is owned by billionaire David H. Murdock.
'The Hawaiian Pineapple Company' was later acquired by Castle & Cooke, and was renamed to 'Dole Food Company, Inc' in 1991. Castle & Cooke Inc, a real estate company, was spun off in 1995; it is currently a separate company but is also owned by Murdock. Dole incorporates the Standard Fruit Company, which was acquired by Castle & Cooke between 1964 and 1968. It was then the U.S.'s second largest producer and importer of bananas. Dole and Chiquita remain the top two U.S. banana companies.
Historically, the Hawaiian Pineapple Company had a hand in the overthrow of Hawaii's last queen, Liliuokalani, and helped the U.S. establish Hawaii as a territory. Sanford Dole, the cousin of James Dole, was briefly president of the Republic of Hawaii in the years immediately following the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, in 1893. ^[1]
'Dole Food Company, Inc.' is member of the SA8000 Social Accountability International (SAI).

Dole also has a plantation in the Philippines and a packing plant in Thailand.
PepsiCo holds the rights to Dole's entire juice line.
==Super Monkey Ball series==
The first three games of the Super Monkey Ball series featured Dole stickers on the bananas as if they were bought, however Dole stopped sponsoring the SMB bananas after Super Monkey Ball Jr.. The bananas play an important role in the series, such as using them to gain lives, buying items and raising the score.

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Mascot

External links

Mascot

'Bobby Banana' is a mascot of Dole Food Company. He is an anthropomorphic banana character, who appears in print as well as (at one time) foam incarnations. A foam figure of Bobby Banana was produced for some time, which was eventually discontinued, it seems, because it was seen as being rather phallic. The figure was standing straight up, its body swelling towards the top, and it sported large, rounded shoes at its base.

External links

★ Dole Food Company, Inc.

★ Dole's Commitment to Safe Salad

★ Yahoo! - Dole Food Company, Inc. Company Profile

★ Dole Corporate Social Responsibility Report

★ The Bobby Banana Song