Dole to Take a Charge Because of Hurricane

Dole Food Co., the world’s largest producer and marketer of fresh fruits, said it will lose money and take a $100-million charge in the fourth quarter because Hurricane Mitch damaged its Central American banana plantations and disrupted its Honduran beverage business. The charge is greater than the Westlake Village-based company expected, although fewer crops were affected than originally thought. Dole estimated the loss at $3 million to $6 million, or 5 cents to 10 cents a share. It was expected to earn 13 cents a share, the average estimate of five analysts surveyed by First Call Corp. Dole shares fell 88 cents to close at $28.50 on the New York Stock Exchange.