Di Giorgio Corporation Creates new Division.

Business Editors

CARTERET, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2003

Di Giorgio Corporation has established a new division, DGI Specialty Foods. The new division will offer a complete line of specialty food products including ethnic, gourmet, imported, and organic food items. "We believe that DGI Specialty Foods will provide retailers a high quality and cost effective supply alternative in this rapidly expanding area of the grocery business," said Steve Bokser, Co-Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer of Di Giorgio Corporation. He added, "the growing demand for product variety and selection, particularly in Hispanic, Carribean, Asian, Kosher and organic foods, has fundamentally changed the way consumers shop, and through this new division, Di Giorgio is committed to being a major player in this arena."

The company has named Jeff Kolpen to head up the new division. Jeff has more than thirty years experience in specialty and international foods with such organizations as Kolpen Distributors, KDI Specialty Foods, and most recently JEM Marketing Group. "I am very excited about this new venture," said Jeff. "We have put together a strong and experienced team of buyers and merchandisers, including Charlie Poll and Joe Quinn, both of whom are well known in the industry. They will work closely with Di Giorgio's experts in the Hispanic foods market, Maria Alvarez, Serafin Cruz, and Juan Ignacio Perez among others. Our team will be second to none." DGI Specialty Foods will begin servicing customers before the end of 2003.

Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions, and adequacy of resources and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievement of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements, expressed or implied, by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions, and those in particular in the New York City metropolitan area; the Company's reliance on several significant customers; potential losses from loans to its retailers; restrictions imposed by the documents governing the Company's indebtedness; current wholesale competition, as well as future competition from presently unknown sources; competition in the retail segment of the supermarket business; the Company's labor relations; potential environmental liabilities which the Company may incur; dependence on key personnel; business abilities and judgment of personnel; changes in, or failure to comply with government regulations; potential commercial vehicle restrictions; inflation, especially with respect to wages and energy costs; the results of terrorism or terrorist acts against the Company; and other factors described in filings of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

About Di Giorgio Corporation

Di Giorgio Corporation, through its White Rose division, is one of the largest independent food distributors in the New York City market. The White Rose Food Division of the Di Giorgio Corporation serves supermarket chains, independent retailers and members of voluntary cooperatives from Maryland to New England. The Division provides over 18,000 food and non-food products to more than 1,500 customer locations. The White Rose brand label consists of over 800 items and has been a fixture in New York homes for over a century. For more information on White Rose, please visit the company's Web site at www.whiterose.com.