US fresh produce giant Fresh Del Monte Produce has anounced that its board of directors has declared an interim cash dividend.

According to the group, the cash dividend is US$0.10 per share, payable on 9 December 2011, to shareholders of record on 16 November 2011.

The group announced earlier in the week that net income dipped during the third quarter of the year, the result of an absence of foreign exchange gains and despiteslight growth in net sales.

Net income came in at US$12.2m (€8.7m) orUS$0.21 per diluted share, the group reported, down from the US$14.5m (€10.3m) or US$0.24 per diluted share recorded in the same period last year.

Net sales rose to US$795.2m (€567m) from US$793.1m (€565.9m) last year, primarily due to expanded sales in the company's fresh produce business along with contributions from its North American banana business, although this was partially offset by lower sales in the prepared food segment.

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