UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: March 22, 2013

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

One Dole Drive

Westlake Village, California 91362

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (818) 879-6600

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Section 5. Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(e) Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On March 22, 2013, Dole Food Company, Inc. updated for 2013 the following, all under Dole’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan as amended and restated February 23, 2012: (i) standard terms and conditions for self-funded cash-based long term incentive awards; (ii) grant notice and standard terms and conditions for nonqualified stock options; (iii) grant notice and standard terms and conditions for performance shares; (iv) grant notice and standard terms and conditions for restricted stock; (v) grant notice and standard terms and conditions for restricted stock units. The updated documents are filed as exhibits to this Current Report. In addition, in connection with the previously announced ITOCHU sale transaction, due to close on April 1, 2013, Dole modified in writing the terms of previously awarded stock options (by extending the exercise period from three months after employment termination with Dole, to March 31, 2014) only for employees (x) whose employment is continuing with ITOCHU or one of the acquired entities of ITOCHU and who accept continued employment in writing with a release to Dole pursuant to the ITOCHU Acquisition Agreement or (y) whose employment with Dole is being terminated as a result of the ITOCHU sale transaction. The notices of such modification are filed as exhibits to this Current Report.

Section 9. Financial Statement and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

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