Dole plc wins sustainability award for watershed management project

Dole plc has been named a winner of the Sustainability in the Food Industry Award by The Shelby and Griffin Report. The award recognizes innovation and impact in reducing environmental footprints, supporting communities and shaping a more sustainable food industry.

Dole earned the honor for its Watershed Management Project in the Uchapa–Pimienta and Andaluz Stream micro-watershed of Olanchito, Yoro, Honduras.

Implemented from March 2023 through February 2025 in partnership with the Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School, the project integrated environmental education, ecosystem-based water management and sustainable production systems to reduce climate vulnerability, according to a news release.

Highlights of the initiative included:

• Engaging 551 local high school students and 45 children in education and environmental protection, restoring more than 5,100 square feet of a municipal nursery with the capacity to produce 50,000 plants annually, and creating school gardens
• Securing the official declaration of 569 hectares (1,406 acres) of the Quebrada Andaluz micro-basin as a protected Forest Zone, restoring 29 hectares (72 acres) with native flora species, and safeguarding an additional 672 (1,660) hectares under conservation
• Expanding clean water access by connecting 230 families to improved distribution systems
• Promoting sustainable livelihoods by planting 2,000 fruit trees on farmers’ plots, enriching 40 production units through agroforestry systems, supporting two beekeeping organizations of 50 members (17 women and 33 men), and producing 30,000 ornamental, fruit and timber plants

The project also helped establish a community-managed Green Fund to finance forest protection and watershed monitoring.

“The Watershed Management Project in Honduras exemplifies how we combine science-based approaches, local partnerships, and community engagement to protect natural resources, promote sustainable farming, and deliver long-term value for people and the planet,” said Rudy Amador, vice president, corporate responsibility, sustainability and communication for Dole Tropical Products Latin America. “Receiving this award underscores Dole’s commitment to building resilience and opportunity and further reinforces our mission to reduce environmental impact, support communities and lead the food industry toward a greener future.”