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                                                                   Exhibit a-5.1

            FLEXI-VAN LEASING, INC. ANNOUNCES PROPOSAL TO ACQUIRE ALL
                   OUTSTANDING SHARES OF CASTLE & COOKE, INC.

KENNILWORTH, NJ,- March 29, 2000 - Flexi-Van Leasing, Inc., a corporation wholly
owned by David H. Murdock, announced today a proposal to the Board of Directors
of Castle & Cooke, Inc. (NYSE-CCS) to acquire all of the outstanding shares of
common stock of Castle & Cooke, Inc. not already owned by David H. Murdock,
Flexi-Van Leasing, Inc., or their affiliates, for $17 per share in cash. This
represents a 41% premium over today's closing price of $12.06.

The proposal contemplates the negotiation and execution of a binding agreement,
which will contain customary terms and conditions for transactions of this type.
David H. Murdock and Flexi-Van Leasing, Inc. have reserved the right to
terminate the proposal if a definitive agreement has not been executed by May
15, 2000. In connection with its proposal, Flexi-Van Leasing, Inc. has engaged
Deutsche Bank to advise on the transaction and has received a "highly confident"
letter from Deutsche Bank with respect to the financing necessary to consummate
the proposed transaction.

Flexi-Van Leasing, Inc., is the largest stockholder of Castle & Cooke, Inc.,
holding 4,501,310 shares of common stock or approximately 26.4% of the total
number of outstanding shares of Castle & Cooke, Inc. Mr. Murdock's sons also
hold an additional 26,956 shares for a total combined ownership of 26.6%.

A MERGER OR TENDER OFFER FOR THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF CASTLE & COOKE, INC.
COMMON STOCK HAS NOT YET COMMENCED. IF A MERGER OR TENDER OFFER COMMENCES, EACH
SECURITY HOLDER OF CASTLE & COOKE, INC. SHOULD READ THE PROXY STATEMENT OR
TENDER OFFER STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER OR TENDER OFFER. ONCE A FILING IS MADE,
SECURITY HOLDERS OF CASTLE & COOKE, INC. CAN OBTAIN THE PROXY STATEMENT OR
TENDER OFFER STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR FREE ON THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION'S WEB
SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. SECURITY HOLDERS OF CASTLE & COOKE, INC. MAY ALSO
OBTAIN COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT OR TENDER OFFER STATEMENT AND OTHER
DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR FREE BY
CONTACTING FLEXI-VAN LEASING, INC., WHEN THE DOCUMENTS BECOME AVAILABLE.



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