Dive Brief:

• Mississippi officials invited executives from Dole to visit the State Port of Gulfport to celebrate the company's 50th year of shipping through the port.
• Dole CEO David Murdock attended -- but wound up causing a bit of a embarrassment. The 91-year old Murdock told the crowd that an expansion of the port was "going too damn slow."
• The Dole visit and Murdock's less-than-diplomatic remarks come just weeks after rival Chiquita announced it was leaving Gulfport after 40 years for Port of New Orleans.

Dive Insight:

After loosing Chiquita's business this year, the State Port of Gulfport has made it clear that the retention of Dole's operations at the port is a vital necessity. But, as seen by these colorful remarks from Murdock, the port needs to pick up operations on the restoration and expansion that started in 2008. Dole's lease with the port expires in 2017, but Murdock says he will avoid renewing until he sees more progress in construction.