Company Description
Dole plc (NYSE: DOLE) is a global fresh produce company that grows, markets, and distributes an extensive variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. According to the company’s disclosures, Dole sources produce locally and from around the world and serves customers in more than 85 countries. The company’s shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DOLE.
Dole describes itself as a global leader in fresh produce, with a goal of making the world healthier and more sustainable. Its activities span the production and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables and related fresh produce businesses. The company emphasizes meeting customer requirements across multiple markets and channels.
Business segments and operations
Based on its financial reporting and SEC filings, Dole operates through several major segments focused on fresh produce:
- Fresh Fruit – This segment includes worldwide activities in bananas, pineapples and plantains, as described in the company’s quarterly financial results. It reflects revenue and earnings from sourcing and selling these tropical fruits.
- Diversified Fresh Produce – EMEA – This segment covers diversified fresh produce activities across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The company’s disclosures highlight operations in markets such as Scandinavia, Spain, the Netherlands, the U.K. and South Africa, with revenue generated from a variety of fresh produce sold in these regions.
- Diversified Fresh Produce – Americas & Rest of World (ROW) – This segment includes diversified fresh produce activities in North America and other international markets. The company reports revenue growth in commodities sold in the North American market and export activities from the southern hemisphere.
In earlier descriptions of its diversified fresh produce operations in EMEA, Dole has referenced businesses in countries including Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the U.K., Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, Eastern European markets and Brazil, selling imported and local fresh fruits and vegetables through retail, wholesale and food service channels.
Strategic portfolio actions
Dole’s recent disclosures show active portfolio management within its fresh produce platform. On August 5, 2025, the company completed the sale of its Fresh Vegetables Division to OG Holdco LLC, the parent company of organicgirl LLC and a portfolio company of Arable Capital Partners. The Fresh Vegetables Division comprised operations related to the processing and sale of whole produce such as iceberg, romaine and leaf lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, celery, asparagus, artichokes, green onions, sprouts, radishes and cabbage, as well as salads and salad kits. Dole retained ownership interests in cooler facilities in Huron, California and Yuma, Arizona in connection with this transaction.
In addition, Dole has entered into agreements to sell its port properties and associated operations in Guayaquil, Ecuador (the Ecuadorian Port Business) to Terminal Investment Limited Holding S.A., as disclosed in a Form 6-K filed in December 2025. The company expects to continue to utilize the port after closing under a terminal services agreement that covers loading and discharging of containers. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals in Ecuador.
Capital allocation and financing
Dole’s financial communications describe a capital allocation approach that includes both investment in its core fresh produce businesses and returning capital to shareholders. In November 2025, the Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program under which the company may repurchase up to $100 million of its ordinary shares, funded from operating cash flow, cash balances and availability under its revolving credit facility. The authorization is part of a broader capital allocation strategy described by the company.
The company has also reported debt refinancing activities. In May 2025, Dole completed the refinancing of its corporate credit facilities, establishing a multicurrency revolving credit facility, a Term Loan A and a Farm Credit term loan, which replaced prior credit arrangements. These facilities support the company’s working capital and investment needs across its global fresh produce operations.
Geographic reach and channels
Dole’s disclosures highlight a broad geographic footprint. Through its diversified fresh produce segments, the company reports activity across Europe (including the U.K., Spain, Scandinavia and the Netherlands), North America, South America (including apples exported from South America) and South Africa, among other markets. The company sells fresh produce through retail, wholesale and food service channels, and also reports a commercial cargo business associated with its logistics activities.
The company’s financial reporting references sales channels such as intermediary retail, intermediary wholesale, food service, commercial cargo and other channels, as well as sales through equity method investees. This reflects a mix of direct and indirect routes to market for its fresh produce.
Corporate structure and reporting status
Dole plc is an Irish public limited company with addresses in Dublin, Ireland and Charlotte, North Carolina, as disclosed in its Form 6-K filings. The company files annual reports on Form 20-F and periodic reports on Form 6-K as a foreign private issuer under U.S. securities laws. Its Form 6-K filings incorporate press releases covering financial results, material transactions and other corporate developments.
Focus on sustainability and social initiatives
In addition to its commercial activities, Dole reports social responsibility initiatives connected to its agricultural operations. In Costa Rica, Dole Fresh Fruit has developed Information and Wellbeing Centers (IWCs), a workplace-based model designed to deliver public and private services such as healthcare, social security, education and financial tools directly to agricultural workers in rural areas. The company has entered into memorandums of understanding with institutions including the Costa Rican Social Security System (CCSS) and Banco Popular to support these centers.
According to the company’s disclosures, the IWC program has reached thousands of individuals across several pineapple farms in Costa Rica and has been recognized with a social responsibility award from the Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce. Dole presents this initiative as part of its commitment to inclusive development and improved access to essential services for farm workers.
Financial performance reporting
Dole regularly reports detailed financial results for its segments, including revenue, income from continuing operations, net income and Adjusted EBITDA. The company uses non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings Per Share, Net Debt, Net Leverage and Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations, with reconciliations provided in its earnings releases. It also distinguishes between continuing operations and discontinued operations, particularly in relation to the Fresh Vegetables Division prior to its sale.
Segment commentary in the company’s quarterly releases highlights factors such as fruit volumes and pricing in bananas, pineapples and plantains, foreign currency translation impacts in EMEA markets, and performance in commodities like kiwi, berries, apples and citrus in the Americas and export businesses. The company also notes the impact of climatic events, such as Tropical Storm Sara in Honduras, on fruit sourcing costs and operational performance.
Dividends and shareholder returns
Dole’s Board of Directors has declared recurring cash dividends per share in connection with its quarterly financial reporting, as reflected in the company’s second and third quarter 2025 releases. These dividends, together with the authorized share repurchase program, illustrate the company’s stated focus on long-term shareholder value within the context of its fresh produce operations.
Summary
Overall, Dole plc is a multinational fresh produce company focused on growing, marketing and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables across multiple regions and channels. Through its Fresh Fruit and Diversified Fresh Produce segments, the company participates in tropical fruit, European and American fresh produce markets. Recent portfolio actions, including the sale of the Fresh Vegetables Division and the planned sale of its Ecuadorian port operations, reflect an emphasis on concentrating resources on core activities while managing capital structure and shareholder returns.