Dole Signs Up for California Marketing Agreement

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -- Dole Fresh Vegetables here, a subsidiary of Dole Food Co., has signed up for the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. The voluntary, industry-backed agreement was created to enhance the protection of leafy green vegetables from food safety hazards. The pact came in the wake of last year's E. coli outbreak linked to California-grown spinach. By signing up, Dole will be required to abide by all accepted safety practices and to purchase spinach, lettuce and other leafy greens only from growers who also agree to follow the standards. Dole follows safety policies in all its growing operations, and believes the California standards should be extended to the industry on a national basis, a spokesman said in a published report.