Dole helps schoolchildren eat healthier food

Dole Food Co Inc is partnering with national organizations to launch a pilot program that will introduce to schools new vending machines featuring healthy food products. The vending machines will supply Dole brand healthy foods such as fresh fruits and Fruit Bowls, in conjunction with cafeteria-prepared salads, sandwich wraps, and milk. These machines use School Link Technology software.

To launch the first phase of this program, vending machines will be placed in 15 schools across four states in February. The schools are in Mesa AZ, Denver CO, Shawnee Mission KS, Corpus Christi TX, and Conroe TX.

All of the snacks and meals chosen for the vending machines are United States Department of Agriculture-approved and reimbursable under its guidelines. The machines will allow students to skip long lunch lines, while also making breakfast and snack food available.

The program likely will be expanded to more schools later in 2007.