P.O. Box 5132 • Westlake Village, CA 91359-5132 • 818-874-4000 • Fax 818-874-4956

BEN HEICK, MUSHROOM INDUSTRY VETERAN,
APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF DOLE^® MUSHROOMS

            WESTLAKE VILLAGE, California—January 8, 2004—It was announced today that Ben Heick, a 29 year veteran of the mushroom industry, has been appointed as the President of DOLE Mushrooms/Oakshire Mushroom Sales, LLC.

            Heick started his mushroom career in 1975 with Ralston Purina Company in Los Angeles. In 1977, he was promoted to Regional Sales Manager and moved with his family to Huntsville, Texas.  Ten years later, Heick was named Southern Zone Sales Manager and relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. 

It was during this time that Ralston Purina’s mushroom facilities were acquired by Amfac, which at that time was the parent company of Monterey Mushrooms.  Ben continued his Monterey Mushroom career servicing as National Sales Director, Vice President of National Accounts, Vice President of Process Operation and finally as Vice President of National Sales.

“We are very excited to have someone with such a wealth of experience and knowledge coming on board to help grow and lead the Dole/Oakshire team,” stated Gary Schroeder, President and Founder of Oakshire Mushroom Farms, Inc.  “Ben is looking forward to making Dole the consumer’s preferred brand of mushrooms in North America.”

Heick will remain in Atlanta, where he will lead the Dole Mushroom sales team in all sales related activities.  In this position, he will report directly to Gary Schroeder.

Oakshire Mushroom Farms, Inc., the leading innovator and grower of specialty mushrooms in North America, markets a full line of white and specialty premium quality mushrooms nationwide and is known for their excellence in customer service.  In 2002, Oakshire joined into a marketing partnership with the Dole Fresh Fruit Company as the exclusive marketer and distributor of Dole brand mushrooms.  Its DOLE Mushroom program markets one of the largest volumes of white mushrooms and specialty mushrooms in North America.                                                                             

Dole Food Company, Inc., with 2002 revenues of $4.4 billion, is the world's largest producer and marketer of high-quality fruit, fresh vegetables and fresh-cut flowers, markets a growing line of packaged foods, and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research.

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