Dole Nutrition Handbook Wins Living Now Book Award08:00 EDT Monday, May 24, 2010 WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. (Business Wire) -- Dole Food Company, Inc. is pleased to have received the prestigious Living Now Book Award for the Dole Nutrition Handbook: What You Need to Eat And How To Live For A Longer Healthier Life. The gold medal award is the top honor in the competition's Nutrition & Diet category. On Earth Day each year, the Jenkins Group – an organization dedicated to promoting books that enrich readers' lives in Earth friendly ways - presents the Living Now Book Awards to honor “books for better living.” "The Dole Nutrition Handbook is an amazing resource for anyone looking to find the latest info on diet and longevity. This colorful, upbeat guide to utilizing fresh fruit and vegetables is packed with comprehensive nutrition information steeped in research -- but it also manages to be accessible to the man on the street. Author David H. Murdock has outdone himself with creating this much-needed, life-changing book," said Jim Barnes, Managing Editor & Awards Director of the Living Now Book awards. Created by Dole's Chairman, David H. Murdock, the Dole Nutrition Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the proper nutrition needed for optimal health and longevity. It contains a wealth of nutrition information, interviews with top nutrition experts from Mr. Murdock's North Carolina Research Campus and even a two week diet and health plan. It was written as an extension of the Dole Nutrition Institute's ongoing mission to “feed the world with knowledge” and provide readers with easily accessible nutrition knowledge. “We are honored to be recognized, not just for our nutrition leadership, but for our green leadership as well,” said Dole's CEO, David DeLorenzo. “Like the Jenkins group, we believe every day is Earth Day and the Handbook reflects that ideal.” Dole's many earth-friendly initiatives include using biodiesels, waste reduction programs, reforestation projects and a growing line of organic produce. To explore the wealth of Dole Nutrition Institute resources -- as well as order your limited edition copy of Mr. Murdock's book -- please visit www.dole.com. Dole, with 2009 net revenues of $6.8 billion, is the world's largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables, and is the leading producer of organic bananas. Dole markets a growing line of packaged and frozen fruit and is a produce industry leader in nutrition education and research.