[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 23877]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   MIAMI WELCOMES DOLE FRESH FLOWERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, on December 9 of this year, 
approximately 300 employees will move into the newly-built world 
headquarters of Dole Fresh Flowers in Miami's International Corporate 
Park.
  Miami has historically been the U.S. gateway for the floral industry, 
since the majority of flowers for commercial use are grown just south 
of us in South America.
  Dole entered the flower business just 2 years ago, bringing to this 
industry 150 years' experience in growing, shipping, and marketing 
fresh produce around the world.
  Dole consolidated four companies into a single entity, to be housed 
on 17 acres of land in a state-of-the-art facility measuring 328,000 
square feet. Nearly 3 million stems of flowers will pass through the 
facility every day during this holiday season alone.
  Employees have been eagerly awaiting the move to this efficient and 
beautiful new home since its groundbreaking last April.

                              {time}  2000

  Miami, and indeed all of our State of Florida, is enthusiastic about 
having this worldwide brand Dole in our community.
  Welcome home, felicidades.

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