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EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Dole sponsors a number of defined benefit pension plans covering certain employees worldwide. Benefits under these plans are generally based on each employee’s eligible compensation and years of service, except for certain plans covering union employees, which are based on negotiated benefits. In addition to pension plans, Dole also has OPRB plans that provide certain health care and life insurance benefits for eligible retired employees.
The Company sponsors six funded defined benefit pension plans including a U.S. qualified plan and five plans outside of the U.S., two of which are based in Ireland, two are based in the U.K., and one is based in Canada. The Company had previously sponsored a Netherlands scheme which was settled in the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company also sponsors unfunded international pension plans (primarily in Latin America) and OPRB plans.
The Company continues a strategy to de-risk its exposure to defined benefit schemes. Substantially all U.S. pension benefits were frozen on December 31, 2001. The plans in Ireland are closed to new entrants, and salaries for defined benefit purposes have been capped, with any salary increases above the cap eligible on a defined contribution basis since 2009. Starting in 2017, Enhanced Transfer Value (“ETV”) programs and buy-in contracts have been initiated for certain members of the Irish plans. Under ETV programs, accumulated accrued benefits for affected members were transferred from the Irish Plans which eliminated future accrual of benefits and entitled the members to receive a transfer value above the statutory minimum amount. Bulk annuity policies (buy-in contracts) were purchased from insurers that provide payments back to the pension scheme to cover the benefits for the affected members. Under the buy-in contracts, the responsibility to pay the pension obligations still rests with the plan and the obligation is still recorded by the Company. Both of the U.K. schemes are closed to new entrants and to new accruals.
Dole’s SERP is a non-qualified benefit and executive compensation plan, and Dole’s ESP plan is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan. Both are funded through investments in Rabbi Trusts. See Note 18 “Fair Value Measurements” for additional detail on the measurement of these assets. Following a change of control event, Dole is obligated, under the provisions of the respective trust agreements, to contribute an amount sufficient to meet the ESP obligation for benefits earned through the change in control year and the ongoing value of the projected benefit obligation of the SERP. The assets held in the Rabbi Trusts are subject to the claims of Dole’s general unsecured creditors and are not included in plan assets. As of December 31, 2024, $6.0 million of the assets was classified as short-term and included in short-term investments in the consolidated balance sheets, and $14.6 million was classified as long-term and included in long-term investments in the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2023, $5.9 million was classified as short-term and $16.0 million was classified as long-term.
Obligations and Funded Status
The funded status of Dole’s defined benefit pension plans was as follows:
U.S. Pension Plans
International Pension Plans
OPRB Plans
 December 31, 2024December 31, 2023December 31, 2024December 31, 2023December 31, 2024December 31, 2023
Change in projected benefit obligation:
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
Benefit obligation at beginning of the year
$175,722 $181,835 $239,667 $228,147 $13,251 $13,144 
Service cost
205 214 5,627 5,799 — 1 
Interest cost
8,395 8,923 11,773 11,730 714 693 
Net actuarial loss (gain)
3,338 4,802 (1,856)8,482 1,944 2,146 
Curtailments, settlements and terminations, net
— — (6,148)(10,033)— — 
Employee contributions
— — 117 182 — — 
Benefits paid
(18,994)(20,052)(12,066)(10,891)(2,920)(2,733)
Foreign exchange impact and other— — (7,067)6,251 — — 
Benefit obligation at end of the year
$168,666 $175,722 $230,047 $239,667 $12,989 $13,251 
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of the year
$149,246 $154,206 $157,168 $147,925 $— $— 
Actual return on plan assets
9,612 12,311 (668)9,722 — — 
Company contributions
3,999 2,781 13,317 15,725 2,920 2,733 
Employee contributions
— — 117 182 — — 
Benefits paid
(18,995)(20,052)(12,066)(10,891)(2,920)(2,733)
Curtailments, settlements and terminations, net
— — (6,148)(11,998)— — 
Foreign exchange impact and other— — (6,435)6,503 — — 
 Fair value of plan assets at end of the year
$143,862 $149,246 $145,285 $157,168 $— $— 
Funded status
$(24,804)$(26,476)$(84,762)$(82,499)$(12,989)$(13,251)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets:
Other assets
$— $— $25,806 $16,033 $— $— 
Pension and postretirement benefits(2,081)(2,189)(14,223)(12,244)(2,187)(2,137)
Pension and postretirement benefits, less current portion(22,723)(24,287)(96,345)(86,288)(10,802)(11,114)
$(24,804)$(26,476)$(84,762)$(82,499)$(12,989)$(13,251)
Amounts included within accumulated other comprehensive loss (income), before tax, were as follows:
U.S. Pension Plans
International Pension Plans
OPRB Plans
 Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2022Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2022Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2022
 
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain)$30,420 $24,638 $18,341 $29,139 $20,424 $15,180 $2,804 $924 $(1,531)
Prior service benefit — — — (5,725)(5,474)(6,285)— — — 
Total
$30,420 $24,638 $18,341 $23,414 $14,950 $8,895 $2,804 $924 $(1,531)
The aggregate projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets of plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were as follows:
 December 31, 2024December 31, 2023
 (U.S. Dollars in thousands)
Projected benefit obligation
$279,260 $274,467 
Accumulated benefit obligation
257,869 257,434 
Fair value of plan assets
143,863 149,246 
The aggregate projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets of plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were as follows:
 December 31, 2024December 31, 2023
 (U.S. Dollars in thousands)
Projected benefit obligation
$292,249 $287,718 
Accumulated benefit obligation
257,869 257,434 
Fair value of plan assets
143,863 149,246 
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income) and Other Changes Recognized in Other Comprehensive Loss (Income)
The components of net periodic benefit cost (income) and other changes recognized in other comprehensive loss (income) for Dole’s U.S. and international pension plans and OPRB plans were as follows:
U.S. Pension Plans
International Pension Plans
OPRB Plans
 Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2022Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2022Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2022
 (U.S. Dollars in thousands)
Components of net periodic benefit cost (income):
Service cost
$205 $214 $256 $5,627 $5,799 $4,465 $— $1 $3 
Interest cost
8,395 8,923 4,943 11,773 11,730 8,219 714 693 443 
Expected return on plan assets
(11,991)(13,226)(11,274)(8,275)(8,369)(6,814)— — — 
Amortization of:
Net (gain) loss(65)(580)— (1,339)(2,151)2,166 64 (309)— 
Prior service benefit
— — — (638)(639)(618)— — — 
Curtailments, settlements and terminations, net
— — 1,106 934 5,649 220 — — — 
Other— — — — — 36 — — — 
Net periodic cost (income)
$(3,456)$(4,669)$(4,969)$8,082 $12,019 $7,674 $778 $385 $446 
Other changes recognized in other comprehensive loss (income):
Net loss (gain)
$5,717 $5,717 $7,330 $6,156 $3,394 $(33,264)$1,944 $2,146 $(1,697)
Prior service expense (benefit)— — — — — 1,339 — — — 
Amortization of:
Net gain (loss)65 580 — 1,339 2,151 (2,166)(64)309 — 
Prior service benefit
— — — 638 639 618 — — — 
Foreign exchange impact and other— — — 331 (129)34 — — — 
Income tax (benefit) expense
(1,634)(1,574)(1,781)(2,434)(1,307)6,226 (459)(622)402 
Total recognized in other comprehensive loss (income)
$4,148 $4,723 $5,549 $6,030 $4,748 $(27,213)$1,421 $1,833 $(1,295)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive loss (income), net of income taxes
$692 $54 $580 $14,112 $16,767 $(19,539)$2,199 $2,218 $(849)
The Company classifies the non-service components of net periodic pension benefit cost within other income, net, in the consolidated statements of operations. Non-service components include interest costs, expected return on plan assets, amortization of net loss (gain) and prior service benefit, curtailment or settlement costs and other items.
Assumptions
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations were as follows:
 
U.S. Pension Plans
International Pension Plans
OPRB Plans
 Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023
Discount rate
5.14 %5.10%5.66 %5.06 %6.03 %5.88%
Rate of compensation increase
3.00 %3.00%3.37 %3.17 %——
Rate of increase in pensions— —2.00 %2.17 %——
Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost were as follows:
U.S. Pension Plans
International Pension Plans
OPRB Plans
Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2022Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2022Year Ended December 31, 2024Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2022
Discount rate
5.10 %5.31%2.62%5.06 %5.26 %2.61 %5.88 %5.79%3.18%
Rate of compensation increase
3.00 %3.00%3.00%3.17 %3.03 %1.98 %— ——
Rate of increase in pensions———2.15 %2.07 %1.90 %— ——
Rate of return on plan assets
6.70 %6.80%5.10%4.38 %4.36 %3.36 %— —3.36%
International plan discount rates and assumed rates of increase in future compensation differ from the assumptions used for U.S. plans due to differences in the local economic conditions in the countries in which the international plans are based. No rate of compensation increase is shown for U.S. plans, because benefits under the U.S. plans are frozen, except for a group of employees whose benefits are negotiated under collective bargaining agreements. The assumption for the rate of compensation increase for these employees reflects the rate negotiated in those bargaining agreements.
The accumulated pension benefit obligation for Dole’s OPRB plan was determined using the following assumed annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits:
 20242023
Health care costs trend rate assumed for next year
7.23%6.69%
Rate of increase to which the cost of benefits is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate)
4.50%4.50%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate
20352033
Plan Assets
The following is the target asset mix for Dole’s pension plans, which management believes provides the optimal trade-off of diversification and long-term asset growth:
 
Target
Allocation
Fixed income securities44%
Equity securities17%
Other39%
Total
100%
Dole’s pension plan weighted average asset allocation by asset category was as follows:1
Year Ended
December 31, 2024December 31, 2023
Fixed income securities43%42%
Equity securities17%18%
Other40%40%
Total
100%100%
1 Certain investments are in funds measured at net asset value as presented in the fair value table below.
The plans’ asset allocation includes a mix of fixed income and other investments designed to reduce volatility and equity investments designed to maintain funding ratios and long-term financial health of the plan. The equity investments are diversified across U.S. and international stocks as well as growth, value and small and large capitalization.
Dole employs a total return investment approach whereby a mix of fixed income, equity and other investments is used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets with a prudent level of risk. The objectives of this strategy are to achieve full funding of the accumulated benefit obligation and to achieve investment experience over time that will minimize pension expense volatility and minimize Dole’s contributions required to maintain full funding status. Risk tolerance is established through careful consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status and corporate financial condition. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through annual liability measurements, periodic asset/liability studies and quarterly investment portfolio reviews.
Dole determines the expected return on pension plan assets based on an expectation of average annual returns over an extended period of years. Dole also considers the weighted-average historical rate of returns on investments with similar characteristics to those in which Dole’s pension assets are invested.

Fair Value of Retirement Plan Assets
Dole estimates the fair value of its retirement plan assets based on current quoted market prices. In instances where quoted market prices are not readily available, the fair value of the investments is estimated by the trustee. In obtaining such data from the trustee, Dole has evaluated the methodologies used to develop the estimate of fair value in order to assess whether such valuations are representative of fair value, including net asset value. Fair values for Level 1 investments are determined based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities. For Level 2 investments, the fair values are determined using observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets but corroborated by market data. There were no identified Level 3 investments as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
The carrying value and estimated fair values of Dole’s retirement plan assets are summarized below:
 
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2024 Using
 
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
 
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents$10,518 $— $— $10,518 
Fixed-income securities25,213 100,188 — 125,401 
Insurance contracts— 29,834 — 29,834 
Equity securities29,271 15,673 — 44,944 
Other955 12,940 — 13,895 
Investments measured at fair value65,957 158,635 — 224,592 
Investments measured at net asset value64,555 
Total plan assets at fair value$65,957 $158,635 $— $289,147 
Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2023 Using
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents$7,404 $— $— $7,404 
Fixed-income securities23,790 111,281 — 135,071 
Insurance contracts— 34,288 — 34,288 
Equity securities34,127 17,886 — 52,013 
Other2,071 5,493 — 7,564 
Investments measured at fair value67,392 168,948 — 236,340 
Investments measured at net asset value70,074 
Total plan assets at fair value$67,392 $168,948 $— $306,414 
Plan Contributions and Estimated Future Benefit Payments
During the year ended December 31, 2024, Dole contributed $1.8 million to its qualified U.S. pension plan. These contributions were made to comply with minimum funding requirements under the Internal Revenue Code without regard to interest rate stabilization. Future contributions to the U.S. pension plan in excess of the minimum funding requirement are voluntary and may change depending on Dole’s operating performance or at management’s discretion. Contributions and benefits paid directly by Dole related to its other U.S. and international pension and OPRB plans totaled $17.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Dole expects to make $2.2 million of contributions and $18.4 million of direct benefit payments related to its pension and OPRB plans in fiscal year 2025.
The following table presents estimated future benefit payments:
U.S. Pension
Plans
International Pension Plans
OPRB Plans
(U.S. Dollars in thousands)
2025$19,391 $20,240 $2,187 
202618,468 15,247 2,019 
202717,616 15,835 1,700 
202816,745 15,814 1,435 
202915,861 17,931 1,358 
Thereafter65,527 82,268 4,912 
Total$153,608 $167,335 $13,611 
Defined Contribution Plans and Other Arrangements
Dole offers defined contribution plans to eligible employees. Such employees may defer a percentage of their annual compensation in accordance with plan guidelines. Some of these plans provide for a company match that is subject to a maximum contribution as defined by the plan. Dole’s contributions to its defined contribution plans totaled $19.0 million, $23.4 million and $21.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Dole is also party to industry-wide collective bargaining agreements that provide pension benefits. Total contributions to multi-employer defined benefit plans for eligible participants were not material for the years ended December 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022.
Dole has collective bargaining agreements with various unions covering approximately 29.7% of Dole’s workforce. Of these unionized employees, 31.7% are covered under a collective bargaining agreement that will expire within one year, and the remaining 68.3% are covered under collective bargaining agreements expiring beyond the upcoming year. These agreements are subject to periodic negotiation and renewal. Failure to renew any of these collective bargaining agreements may result in a strike or work stoppage; however, management does not expect that the outcome of these negotiations and renewals will have a material adverse impact on Dole’s financial condition or results of operations.