Castle & Cooke Inc.’s profit rose 18%...

Castle & Cooke Inc.’s profit rose 18% in the first quarter, largely on the strength of a strong performance by its Dole Food Co., which produces fresh and packaged fruit and vegetables. Los Angeles-based Castle & Cooke, which also owns Oceanic Properties, a land and development company in Hawaii, said net earnings for the quarter were $24.6 million, accompanied by revenue of $538.7 million, up from $396.9 million.