Dole Food Company, Inc. Announces Promotion of Peter Gilmore to Vice President, Eastern Seaboard Sourcing

Business Wire, March 21, 2006

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Dole Food Company, Inc., today announced the promotion of Peter Gilmore to Vice President, Eastern Seaboard Sourcing. In his new role, Mr. Gilmore will be responsible for sourcing product on the east coast of the United States for Dole's North American Fresh Fruit Division, Worldwide Vegetable Division and the Worldwide Packaged Foods Division. He will be relocating to North Carolina.

Mr. Gilmore joined Dole in 1979 as a management analyst in Limon, Costa Rica. In 1981 he was appointed Controller for Dole's operations in Ecuador. In 1987, Mr. Gilmore was named Division General Manager for Dole Colombia. In 1991, he was appointed Division General Manager of Dole Costa Rica. Mr. Gilmore was named Vice President and General Manager of Dole Costa Rica in 1998. His most current position was Vice President, Business Development for Dole Fresh Fruit in Westlake Village, California. He graduated with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and received an M.B.A. from Stanford University.

Richard Dahl, President and Chief Operating Officer, stated: "Pete assumes a very important role as Dole expands its physical presence in North Carolina. Dole is committed to sourcing various fruits and vegetables from North Carolina and the region to support its operations. Pete, a native of North Carolina, has an incredible depth of successful experience in the agricultural industry with his 27 years of service to Dole. We are fortunate to have him for this newly created position. He will be an integral part of the company's growth in the region."

Dole Food Company, Inc., with 2004 revenues of $5.3 billion, is the world's largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and fresh-cut flowers. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen foods and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research.

This release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements, which are based on management's current expectations, are generally identifiable by the use of terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "intends" and similar expressions. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied herein include weather-related phenomena; market responses to industry volume pressures; product and raw materials supplies and pricing; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; economic crises and security risks in developing countries; international conflict; and quotas, tariffs and other governmental actions. Further information on the factors that could affect Dole's financial results is included in its SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K.