The class of 2023 –

a vibrant and diverse group

Kgahliso (affectionately known as KG) started at Dole as a general intern, and today she is permanently employed in the Supply Chain department as a Risk and Compliance Coordinator. Agriculture has always been her passion, and while her foray into the day-to-day operations is a far cry from her romantic notion of owning her own boutique wine farm with villas and sipping champagne, this Agricultural Economics graduate is grateful for the guidance and mentoring she is receiving during this very steep learning curve. “I am in awe of the scale of Dole’s business – from the number of cartons we export, to the sustainable business practices we apply and the exceptional quality of our fruit. And no-onemakes you feel inferior. There is always a personal interest in what I do. “

KG is bubbly and generous of spirit, but when in front of her computer she is diligent and fully engaged in the processes and task at hand. When asked about her experience at Dole so far, she says: “Wow, I am being ‘marshmallowed’ – I am being treated so well, not once have I felt out of place – this is my family now.”

KG says: “I am in awe of the scale of Dole’s business.”

Kruger’s internship at Dole started in March 2019 and came down to a matter of sink or swim in a flood of information overload.

Fortunately, the Marketing and Project Management graduate learnt the art of staying afloat, overcoming his initial shyness. Describing Dole as his “first real job”, Kruger started in the Grapes department and then joined the Citrus team for a season of further training before being permanently appointed to the Dole team in November 2019. “The two commodities differ, but the principles remain the same. Grapes are very high intensity and quick. You need to think fast. Citrus navigates more volume and here you need to make smart decisions. But both commodities are equally enjoyable.”

Kruger says: “I want to make Dole the exporter of choice,
to bolster its name and reputation amongst growers and customers.”

Juané needed very little introduction into the agricultural business. Farming is in her blood: she comes from a long line of mainly citrus farming dating back to her grandfather in the citrus producing region of Letsitele in South Africa. So it was no surprise that her Marketing Honours studies led her to her first real job in branding and strategy for an export company. Her love for the citrus commodity is what led her to Dole as in intern in April 2021.

Appointed permanently in September 2022, she says she finds the industry “close to home”. Of course, having grown up with the production side of the business, she now enjoys experiencing everything that happens after the chain – focusing on the commercial market in particular.

“I was made to feel welcome from the get-go,’” she says. “Even though the office is big, colleagues from all departments took the time to teach and to involve me in projects. The approach was, ‘There is no dumb question.’ Best of all, she says, is how volatile the business can be. “Every day is different, and I am loving it.”

Juané says: “Interns are treated as equals.”

Kganedi, the newest recruit at Dole, is serving his internship in the Deciduous and Commercial departments.

Growing up, the Agricultural Economics and Agri Business Management graduate developed a close bond with his grandparents, who instilled in him their farming passion and their desire for him to mirror their footprint. They farmed on a subsistence scale (goats, sheep cattle, maize and beans) on land handed down through the generations in the Limpopo region of South Africa. And that is where he spent holidays and weekends working. As much as a young boy does not enjoy toiling away in the mud, in time he realized the true value of it all.

His Dole experience began at the peak of the 2023 grape season. “It was a whirlwind,” he says. “So much to learn. But the adrenalin rush kept me going. The team’s warm embrace and support from leadership have helped me to step up to meet expectations. I’ve been able to unlock a different side of myself and to dig deep. “

He has been stimulated by the variety of his internship. “I have experienced different facets of the business and met many new stakeholders as we engage with different departments. In university you learn about the supply chain – but being here in this space, you see how it all comes together.”

Kganedi says: “Dole embraces free-thinking people.”