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Dole Philippines Announces the Planting of the 1,000,000th Tree

Posted on: Thursday, 20 December 2007, 12:00 CST

Dolefil, a Philippines division of Dole Packaged Foods Company announced today the planting of the 1,000,000th tree under its "Chairs-for-Trees" program, once again addressing the vital needs in education, the environment (through recycling and reforestation), and livelihood generation.

For the last four years Dolefil has been an active participant in the Chairs-for-Trees program which is a corporate-cooperative-community partnership whose goal is to increase the numbers of school desk and chair combinations in Southern Mindanao communities and in the process help the environment through recycling and reforestation, as well as generate livelihood opportunities to residents in the communities.

Under the program, Dolefil's wooden pallets are turned over to a local cooperative which recycles and converts them into desk-chair combinations, kiddy tables, chairs and church pews which are then delivered to pre-identified beneficiary public schools, churches, day care centers and other institutions. As a reciprocating action, the recipients then collaborate by planting a tree for every 10.00 Philippine peso's worth of donation. Seedlings for the trees are also provided to the beneficiaries through another company sponsored cooperative. So far Dolefil has donated more than 40,000 desk-chair combinations to various beneficiaries in Southern Mindanao.

Kevin Davis, Managing Director of Dolefil stated, "through our collaboration with the Chairs-for-Trees program, we are able to fulfill a need for quality furniture, recycle products, provide a steady source of income for community members, preserve the environment and increase awareness of the importance of reforestation. We look forward to continued success with this program and others that enrich the communities in which we operate."

About Dole Food Company:

Dole is committed to the quality of our products, sustainable environmental practices and the wellbeing of our 75,000 employees worldwide. Dole contributes generously to the communities where it operates around the world, promoting nutrition and health education as well as a healthier, more sustainable environment.

Dole Food Company, Inc., with 2006 revenues of $6.2 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.

Source: Business Wire

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