Dole to Consolidate Part of Division Into Fresno Plant

Dole Food Co., a Westlake Village-based food and real estate concern, said it will consolidate some of its dried-fruit operations into a plant it purchased near Fresno, part of a “strategic review” of the dried-fruit business.

As part of the consolidation, Dole expects that all of its consumer raisins now processed at its Kerman plant and prune processing now at a plant in Morgan Hill will be moved to the new Fresno facility starting in late fall. Dole said the move is intended to strengthen its position in consumer packaged goods and to lower costs.

Separately, Dole said it has formed an alliance with the New Zealand Kiwi Board to market fresh New Zealand kiwi in Japan.

Under the agreement, Dole will be the exclusive sales and distribution agent for New Zealand kiwi in 1994. Sales of New Zealand kiwi exported to Japan total about $130 million, Dole said.