Dole Packaged Foods Launches 10th Annual Philippines "Light A Tree - Light A Life" Program to Benefit Underprivileged.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Dole Packaged Foods Philippines (Dolefil), a division of Dole Food Company, recently kicked-off its 2006 "Light A Tree, Light A Life Program" to help benefit the local community. For ten years, the program has provided holiday gifts to underprivileged children and the elderly, along with a generous financial contribution from Dolefil to local projects that benefit the less fortunate.

Beginning in November of each year, Dolefil employees donate funds to purchase items for those in need. Items such as bath towels, toiletries, clothing and snacks are purchased and then assembled into holiday gift packs. For every employee donation, Dolefil lights a bulb on the designated company Christmas tree, and as the donations grow the tree becomes fully lit. After the holiday, Dolefil tallies the total amount of donations made by employees and matches it. The matching funds are then used to finance projects to benefit the underprivileged in the upcoming year. Since the program's inception, Dolefil employees and the company have contributed over $45,000 dollars and have shared more than 600 gifts.

"It is incredibly rewarding to see the joy on the children's faces when they receive the gift packs," said Kevin Davis, General Manager, Dolefil. "Additionally, the company's matching funds support programs that help those who need it most for an entire year. This program is just one way Dole Packaged Foods gives back to the community throughout the year."

This year, 216 beneficiaries will receive gift packs. The recipient institutions include the St. Lawrence Kalinga Orphanage in Koronadal and the Mercyville Orphanage in Tupi, as well as the Home for Children, St. Gemma's Orphanage, the Home for the Aged and the Marcellin Foundation, Inc. in General Santos City.

Dole Food Company, Inc., with 2005 revenues of $5.9 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 foods and frozen fruit 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.