OCA Editor’s Note:  For the past three years, the OCA has been
pressuring Dole Food Company to clean up its act in regards to the
growing and harvesting of its flowers on its Colombian and Ecuadorian
farms. Due, in part, to OCA supporters sending letters to Dole via our Valentine’s Campaign,Dole is taking major steps to produce flowers with fewer pesticides and with better treatment of farmworkers.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Jan 04, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Dole Food
Company announced today that Dole Fresh Flowers has received the
Florverde Certification at its farm operations in Colombia, South
America. The Florverde Certification represents
that its certified members grow their flowers in compliance with
environmental, social, labor and occupational health and safety
standards. In order to receive the Florverde(R:  55.08, +3.08, +5.92%)
certification, participating farms must comply with all compulsory
standards and codes of conduct, including operational and social
guidelines. Certification is verified by an independent third party,
SGS, a renowned international audit company based in Switzerland as
stated by Florverde.