Dole Food Company Events

1851 Castle & Cooke Partnership is Formed
Castle & Cooke was started in 1851 by two former mission secular agents, Samuel Northrup Castle and Amos Starr Cooke. They had both arrived in the Islands in 1837 as part of the Eighth Co...
1858 Castle & Cooke Invest in Haiku Sugar Company
Castle & Cooke enter the food business with their first investment in Hawaii's sugar industry. The Haiku Sugar Company, is the first sugar enterprise in Hawaii to raise capital through st...
1889 Nov 16 Oahu Railway and Land Company Opens First Railroad in Hawaiian Islands
On November 16, 1889, the Oahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L) began operating on Hawai`i's third largest island, Oahu. The brainchild of Massachusetts native Benjamin Franklin Dillingha...
1894 Dec 28 Castle & Cooke is incorporated under the laws of Hawaii.
The Castle & Cooke partnership was incorporated and Joe Atherton was elected president. At this time the company was just coming out of a financial slump caused by its 1889 investment in ...
1899 James Drummond Dole comes to Hawaii
James Drummond Dole come to Hawaii, fresh out of Harvard's School of Horticulture and Agriculture with a love of farming and a desire to set up a farming business for himself.
1900 Jun 14 President William McKinley appoints Sanford Dole first territorial governor of Hawaii
The territory of Hawaii is established and Sanford Dole, cousin of James Dole, is appointed first Governor of the new territory.
1901 Hawaiian Pineapple Company Founded
James Dole begins growing pineapple on 60 acres on Wahiawa, north of Oahu. Dole's company becomes Hawaiian Pineapple Company and is incorporated in this year. James Dole becomes known...
1907 Dole brings pineapple cannery to Honolulu
Dole moves pineapple cannery to Honolulu and places ads in U.S. magazines to promote pineapple. (This was one of the first nationwide consumer ad campaigns in America.)
1911 Henry Ginaca invents machine (the "Ginaca Machine") that automated the peeling and coring of pineapples
A Dole engineer, Henry Ginaca, invents a machine that peels, cores and cuts pineapple at the speed of 80 to 100 pineapples per minute.
1922 Dole purchases Lana'i
James Dole purchases the Island of Lana'i.
1926 Dole's first pineapple on Lana'i
Dole's first pineapple is harvested on Lana'i. (Note: It takes 18 months to two years to grow a pineapple from the crown).
1933 Dole Name Appears on Cans of Pineapples and Pineapple Juice
Recognizing the popularity and significance of quality in James Dole's name, the company first stamps "DOLE" on cans of pineapple and pineapple juice.
1948 Castle & Cooke Enters Tuna Packing Business
Castle & Cooke enters the tuna packing business by purchasing 41% of the stock and a few years later 97% of the stock of Hawaiian Tuna Packers.
1954 Castle & Cooke Enters the Banana Business
Castle & Cooke purchases 55% interest in Standard Fruit & Steamship Company, New Orleans, entering the banana business.
1956 Castle & Cooke Exchanges Ownership in Hawaiian Tuna Packers for Columbia River Packers Association
Castle & Cooke exchanges ownership in Hawaiian Tuna Packers for 12% interest in Columbia River Packers Association, producers of Bumble Bee® Seafood.
1961 Dole and Columbia River Packers (which Becomes Bumble Bee Seafood, Inc.) Merge with Castle & Cooke
Dole and Columbia River Packers merge with Castle & Cooke. Because the DOLE® brand was so well known and signified high quality with consumers, Dole products retain their name and CRPA be...
1963 Dole Philippines Is Organized
Dole Philippines, the pineapple growing operations in the Philippines, is organized under the name Dolefil.
1968 Castle & Cooke Gains Full Ownership of Standard Fruit
Castle & Cooke acquires 100% of Standard Fruit, the second largest producer and importer of bananas.
1973 Castle & Cooke Becomes Leader in North American Banana Market
Castle & Cooke develop two large banana plantations on the coasts of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Castle & Cooke banana operations become the leader in the North American market.
1973 Donald J. Kirchoff Becomes President of Castle & Cooke
Donald J. Kirchoff becomes president of Castle & Cooke.
1985 Castle & Cooke Merges with Flexi-Van Corp in Response to Financial Problems
Castle & Cooke faces severe financial problems. A merger with Flexi-Van Corporation, a transportation equipment leasing company, brings financial stability back to the Company, as well as...
1986 Dole Unveils Redesigned Logo
The DOLE logo is redesigned. The bright yellow sunburst is chosen as research shows it signifies freshness, quality, wholesomeness and good tasting products. The DOLE brand enjoys 98% wor...
1991 Castle & Cooke Officially Becomes Dole Food Company
At the annual shareholders' meeting, a resolution is approved to change the name of Castle & Cooke to Dole Food Company, Inc. Dole is now the world's largest producer and marketer of fres...
1991 Dole Launches 5 A Day Program to Encourage Healthy Eating
Dole launches Dole 5 A Day Program to encourage young children and their families to eat five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
1992 Dole 5 A Day Program Commences Distribution of Free Nutritional Education Materials to Schools
Dole 5 A Day begins distributing free nutrition education materials to elementary schools across the United States.
1995 Dole Launches www.dole5aday.com
Dole 5 A Day launches www.dole5aday.com as another interactive way to educate young children and their families about fruits, vegetables and physical activity.
1995 Dole's Market Exceeds 90 Countries with a Line of Over 170 Food Products
Dole's global reach extends to more than 90 countries with a product line of over 170 fresh and packaged food products. The DOLE brand continues to stand for high quality, healthful, good...
1996 Dole Acquires Pascual Hermanos, the Largest Fruit and Vegetable Grower in Spain.
Dole acquires Pascual Hermanos, the largest fruit and vegetable grower in Spain.
1996 Dole Brand is Rated Number One in Customer Satisfaction in an American Consumer Satisfaction Index Survey
The DOLE brand is rated Number One in Customer Satisfaction in a survey by American Consumer Satisfaction Index, as reported in Fortune Magazine.
1996 Dole Fresh Vegetables' Salad Operation Receives Plant of the Year Award from Food Engineering Magazine
Dole Fresh Vegetables' salad operations in Soledad, California, receive Plant of the Year Award from Food Engineering Magazine for superior design in safety, hygiene, and efficiency.
1996 Dole Launches www.dole.com
Dole launches its website: www.dole.com
1997 Dole Receives High Marks from The Council on Economic Priorities for Philanthropic Activities
The Council on Economic Priorities, which publishes the book, "Students Shopping For A Better World," gives Dole Food Company, Inc. an "A' in charitable giving, a "B" in environmental man...
1998 Dole awarded for generosity to the hungry
Dole receives the "Second Harvest Partnership Award" and the "Hunger's Hope Award" for generous giving to the hungry.
1998 Dole receives "Corporate Conscience: Honor Roll Designee Award"
Dole receives "Corporate Conscience: Honor Roll Designee Award" from Council on Economic Priorities (CEP).
1998 Dole's banana operations first to be certified to the environmental management system requirements
In July of 1998, Dole's banana operations in Costa Rica become the first banana exporter and the first agricultural producer in the world to become certified to the environmental manageme...
2001 Dole receives "Diamond Crystal Excellence Award"
Dole 5 A Day receives the Produce for Better Health Foundation’s “Diamond Crystal Excellence Award” for Dole’s long-term commitment to educating young children and their families about 5 ...
2001 Dole's Ohio packaged salad plant named "Plant of the Year"
Dole’s Springfield, Ohio packaged salad plant was named “Plant of the Year” by Refrigerated & Frozen Foods magazine for its advanced automation, sanitation and changeover techniques.
2001 Fortune Magazine recognizes Dole
Dole recognized by Fortune magazine as one of America’s 50 best companies for minorities.
2002 Dole 5 A Day website "Among the Best"
The Dole 5 A Day website receives the highest rating possible (“Among the Best”) from the Tufts University Nutrition Navigator, a rating service for nutrition websites.
2003 David H. Murdock Completes Acquisition of Dole
David H. Murdock completes acquisition of Dole. Dole is delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.
2003 Dole "5 A Day Virtual Classroom" Receives a Produce for Better Health Foundation "Excellence Award"
Dole 5 A Day received a Produce for Better Health Foundation “Excellence Award” for the “5 A Day Virtual Classroom”, a week-long online interactive educational event that reached children...
2003 Dole Partners with White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
Dole partners with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) with the ONDCP’s National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. Click here for more information. (link to Compa...
2005 Dole's Company-owned Banana and Pineapple Farms in Costa Rica certified to SA 8000
In 2005, all of Dole's Company-owned banana and pineapple farms located in Costa Rica were certified to SA 8000
2005 Philippine Department of Trade & Industry Recognizes Dole Philippines, Inc.
Dole Philippines, Inc. was recognized as a "Hall of Fame" awardee by the Philippine Department of Trade & Industry - Center for Industrial Competitiveness (DTI-CIC) for successful program...
2006 Oct 18 Dole Food Company Completes Purchase of JP Fruit Distributors
Dole Food Company has announced the completion of Dole's purchase from Jamaica Producers Group Ltd. of the 65 percent of JP Fruit Distributors (JPD) that Dole does not already own for $41...
2006 Nov 3 Dole Food Company, Inc. Announces SA 8000 Certification for Hua Hin, Thailand Factory
Dole Packaged Foods Company, a division of Dole Food Company, announced today that its fruit processing factory in Hua Hin, Thailand has been certified to the Social Accountability Intern...
2007 Mar 14 Dole Food Company and Feed The Children Mark 10 Years of Fighting Hunger in South Florida
Dole Food Company today announced that it is teaming up with Feed the Children to support South Florida's largest annual food drive. The company will donate over 42,000 lbs of Dole® Frui...
2007 May 23 Dole Food Company named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies
Dole Food Company, Inc. was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Magazine, a national publication dedicated to illuminating the important correlation between ethi...
2007 Jul 30 Dole Food Company, Inc. Announces SA 8000 Certification in Colombia
Dole Food Company, Inc. today announced that all its Company-owned banana farms located in Colombia have been certified to the Social Accountability International SA 8000 work place and h...
2007 Nov 30 Dole Food Company Recognized for Corporate Social Responsibility Programs in Costa Rica and Thailand
Dole announced yesterday that Standard Fruit Company de Costa Rica, a Dole division in Costa Rica, and Dole Thailand received the 2007 'Grand Winner' Award and a 2007 'Excellence Award' f...