Nutrition Experts, Celebrity Chefs Mark Dole Salad Bar Donation at D.C. School

Today, Dole Food Company, Inc. (NYSE:DOLE) was joined by USDA Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Julie Paradis, city officials and D.C.-based celebrity Chefs Cathal Armstrong and Spike Mendelsohn to mark the donation of a salad bar at the CentroNía D.C. Bilingual Charter School.

The District of Columbia has the highest childhood obesity rate in the nation, according to a study released this month by the Centers for Disease Control. Thankfully, initiatives including First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign are drawing attention to the obesity epidemic and have made nutrition and health goals a part of the country’s national agenda.

Dole Food Company, in partnership with United Fresh Produce Association, is working to help schools in our Nation’s Capital meet these goals by donating free salad bars to several schools throughout the District, including D.C. Bilingual Charter School, Walker-Jones Elementary, River Terrace Elementary and Brown Education Campus.

"The salad bar donations are a natural extension to Dole’s existing commitment to kids’ nutrition,” said Marty Ordman, Dole’s Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications. "With the donation of these salad bars, we’re making healthy eating a daily event.”

Thursday’s event highlighted real-world solutions to combat the obesity epidemic. It also recognized an innovative D.C. school that is working to ensure their students understand the important role of fresh fruits and vegetables in eating healthy every day.

"I am proud to instill healthy lifestyles in children and families by starting early with healthy eating,” said BB Otero, President and CEO of CentroNía. "Together, with partnerships like these, we can improve our children’s health.”

About CentroNia

CentroNía is a multicultural learning community, pioneering the approach to bilingual education. A multi-site organization, CentroNía provides guidance each step of the way for children, youth and families to achieve their goals within the community and beyond. At present, CentroNía is located throughout the region offering programs at three center-based facilities. Annually, our programs reach more than 1,500 children and families.

About Dole Food Company

Dole, with 2009 net revenues of $6.8 billion, is the world’s largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas and producer/shipper of organic pineapples. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research. For more information, please visit www.dole.com