What does quality mean? At Dole, it means that we respect strict international guidelines and norms - from seed selection to supermarket presentation.
Growing • Packing • Shipping • Storing, Ripening and Distributing
Before any seeds are planted, we review the nutritional value and flavor of the fruit or vegetable they produce. As a rule, we only plant varieties adapted to the local soil and climate.
In-house and third-party agronomists audit our fields regularly during cultivation. They make sure Dole’s practices conform to environmental programs, such as GAP, ICM and IPM; international standards such as ISO 9002, ISO 14001; and social accountability standards, such as SA 8000.
Upon harvest, we inspect all fruit and vegetables and record the data.
Produce is re-inspected when it arrives at the packing plant. Even though most of Dole’s packing stations are near our growing sites, there is some risk of damage in transport. We eliminate any damaged fruit or vegetables before packing begins.
We implement strict packing procedures in conformity with ISO 9002, European Union norms and HACCP regulations. Products are checked systematically before shipment and EAN bar codes to ensure traceability are used - or are in the process of being implemented, depending on countries and products - for optimal traceability.
