In the US, Dole Food Company has launched a month-long promotion that will enlist wholesale and retail customer support for organic farmers worldwide.
Starting at the beginning of March, the group is donating US$1 for every box of Dole Organic Pineapples purchased by a wholesaler or retailer to the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), a Santa Cruz, California-based organisation that works to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming systems.
The promotion runs from the 1 to the 31 March, and covers all wholesale and retailer purchases of Dole Organic Pineapples in the US and Canada.
“We believe that if we succeed in our goal to make organic farming the leading form of agriculture, the result will be healthy andresilientpeople, ecosystems and economies,” explained OFRF executive director Brise Tencer. “Dole is comprised of a mix of company and family growers – many of them growing organic – so they believe in our efforts.
'This programme contributes directly to our mission by simultaneously supporting organic family farmers and encouraging more retailers to stock organic product,' he added.
The promotion is described as a continuation of Dole’s expanded focus on organic produce over the past few years.
To accompany its organic pineapples, bananas, and fresh vegetable products, including celery, celery hearts, green onions and hearts of romaine, Dole now offers a line of organic salad blends.
In addition to increased organic offerings, Dole has also intensified its research involving organic fruit and vegetables. The company’s nutritional arm, Dole Nutrition Institute (DNI), is currently studying the nutritional benefits of organic produce at the Dole Nutrition Research Laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus.
