BANANAS!*

Press release:

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA – October 14, 2009 Dole Food Company, Inc. today announced that it is dismissing its defamation lawsuit against filmmakers Fredrik Gertten, Margarete Jangård and WG Film AB in the Los Angeles Superior Court, relating to the film BANANAS!*.

Dole made its decision in light of the free speech concerns being expressed in Sweden, although it continues to believe in the merits of its case. Dole strongly believes in freedom of speech and expression, which are so important in Sweden and the United States.

"While the filmmakers continue to show a film that is fundamentally flawed and contains many false statements we look forward to an open discussion with the filmmakers regarding the content of the film," said C. Michael Carter, Dole’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

U.S. Contact: Marty Ordman – Phone: 818-874-4834
Europe Contact: Marie Noelle Fixler – Phone: 33 1 44 17 30 60

Media links:

Dole withdraws lawsuit against Swedish filmmaker
AP, Los Angeles Times, Oct 15

Dole drops BANANAS!* lawsuit
David Landes, The Local, Oct 15

Swedish news papers:

Dole drar tillbaka stämningen
Sydsvenskan, Oct 15

Dole drar tillbaka stämningen mot BANANAS!*
Anders Forsström, Dagens Nyheter, Oct 15

Dole drar tillbaka stämning
Helsingborgs Dagblad, Oct 15

Dole drar tillbaka stämning
Göteborgsposten, Oct 15

Dole drar tillbaka stämning
Svenska Dagbladet. Oct 15