Dole Implements New
Environmental
Agricultural Practices
for Pineapple Production
in Costa Rica
Dole Food Company
announced the
implementation of new,
progressive
environmental
agricultural practices
for pineapple production
in Costa Rica.
Dole's decision in
October of 2007 to
discontinue the use of
paraquat was quickly
implemented worldwide on
both company and
contracted grower farms.
Costa Rica presented
specific challenges
where the cattle fly (stomoxys
calcitrans) could
multiply rapidly and
reach harmful levels if
crop residues were not
desiccated by this
herbicide.
Working together with
the Government of Costa
Rica and the Company's
own scientists and
production team, Dole
was able to develop more
sustainable agricultural
practices allowing for
paraquat-free pineapple
production. Dole is
using innovative
practices on its
pineapple farms such as
mechanical destruction
and minimum tillage,
eliminating the need to
burn crop residue and
avoiding release of CO2
into the atmosphere.
"Our model practices on
Dole's pineapple farms
in Latin America are
setting new standards
for the entire
industry," said Richard
Toman, Vice President of
Pineapple Operations for
Dole Fresh Fruit
International, Ltd.
Dole is working to
produce a carbon neutral
product supply chain for
bananas and pineapples
in Costa Rica. In
partnership with the
country's Ministry of
Environment and Energy,
Dole is engaging supply
chain partners and
stakeholders to
neutralize the carbon
footprint resulting from
the planting,
harvesting, packaging
and distribution of
bananas and pineapples
from Costa Rica.
Dole Food Company, Inc.,
with 2007 revenues of
us$6.9 billion, is the
world's largest producer
and marketer of
high-quality fresh fruit
and fresh vegetables.
Dole markets a growing
line of packaged foods
and frozen fruit and is
a produce industry
leader in nutrition
education and research. |
