Dole is the world’s largest exporter of Chilean fruit. Dole Chile has approximately 20 Company-owned farms employing over 3,000 full-time and seasonal employees and sources products from hundreds of independent growers.

Products and Areas of Production

Dole Chile sources the following products from the following areas:

• Copiapo and Coquimbo: grapes
• San Felipe: grapes, stonefruit and avocados
• Santiago: grapes, stonefruit, avocados, pears and kiwis
• Rancagua, San Fernando, Chimbarongo and Curico: grapes, stonefruit, apples, pears and kiwis

Independent Growers

Dole Chile sources apples and pears from approximately 240 independent growers and grapes, stonefruit, avocados and kiwis from approximately 460 independent growers.

The technical assistance programs for independent growers have been audited and certified to ISO 14001.

Audits are conducted to ensure that recommendations are implemented. Agronomists review the record books to verify that crop protection products are used appropriately and that the harvest interval is respected.

The technical assistance programs require annual auditing of all the independent growers under the ChileGAP protocol to determine strengths and weaknesses in the environmental and food safety areas, and if necessary, make recommendations for improvement.

Environmental Practices

Dole Chile’s Environmental Management System was ISO 14001 certified for the first time in January 2000.

Examples of Dole Chile’s environmental programs include:

• Construction of new storage areas for pesticides and fuel
• Provision of potable water to all plants and farms and certification by the appropriate ministries
• Disposal of empty crop protection product containers in official collection stations
• Disposal of used oil in accordance with legal requirements
• Sewage-treatment plant in operation
• "Zero spills" prevention programs to eradicate spill contamination, promoted at all Dole Chile units
• Use of low-volume application machines to achieve the best and most efficient use of pesticides, savings per hectare, better distribution in orchards and prevention of soil and water contamination

Labor Conditions

Training

There is a training plan for each plant and farm. The plan is then audited and approved by the ISO Committee. The objective of the plan is to train workers in all activities that may affect health, product quality or the environment. For all employees, the training plan includes:

• Dole Chile policy
• Risk prevention (accidents and work-related illness)
• Handling of dangerous materials, when applicable
• First aid
• Food safety

All supervisors are trainers. All Dole workers receive special training in functions that could carry a health, quality or environmental impact.

Social Benefits

There is a 23% social supplement, which includes benefits such as a health plan, unemployment insurance and social security.

Community Programs

Medical Programs

Chilean law requires that workers and employers contribute to health care services. Each worker who is in contact with potentially hazardous chemical products undergoes preventive health tests at the
Mutual Benefits Hospital.

Housing Programs

Dole Chile provides in-season housing at Dole farms to approximately 500 Dole farm workers.

Main Certifications

• ISO 9001
  • Dole Chile S.A.
  • Cartones San Fernando for the design, sales and manufacturing of cardboard boxes
• GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices): Four Dole plants and approximately 15 farms certified
• HACCP: One Dole plant certified
• BRC (British Retail Consortium Standard): One Dole farm and one Dole plant certified
• EurepGAP:  Approximately 275 farms certified
• ISO 14001
  • Dole Chile S.A. (all zones) for the production and packing of deciduous fruit (including technical assistance programs for independent growers)
  • Cartones San Fernando for the manufacturing, sales, design and delivery of cardboard boxes
•  OHSAS 18001: 1999 (occupational health and safety management system): Dole Chile S.A.