Rising Oil Prices: The ongoing Middle East conflict is driving oil prices higher, which directly impacts Dole plc through increased transportation costs for its global fresh produce supply chain, as well as higher costs for energy-intensive agricultural inputs like fertilizers and packaging.

Global Growth Downgrade: The IMF's expected downgrade of global growth forecasts, influenced by the Middle East conflict, could reduce consumer purchasing power and demand for fresh produce in key markets worldwide, potentially affecting Dole's sales volumes and revenue.

Strong US Job Market: A robust US economy, evidenced by 178,000 new jobs in March and a 4.3% unemployment rate, suggests healthy consumer spending. This positive economic indicator for the US market can support demand for Dole's food products, particularly in the fresh produce category.