Contemporary produce large Dole Meals Firm has confirmed risk actors behind a February ransomware assault have accessed the data of an undisclosed variety of workers.

Dole employs round 38,000 individuals worldwide, offering recent fruit and veggies to clients in additional than 75 nations.

The corporate revealed that final month’s cyberattack immediately impacted its workers’ data within the annual report filed with the U.S. Securities and Change Fee (SEC) on Wednesday.

“In February of 2023, we have been the sufferer of a classy ransomware assault involving unauthorized entry to worker data,” Dole stated within the submitting.

“Upon detecting the assault, we promptly took steps to comprise the assault, retained the providers of main third-party cybersecurity specialists and notified legislation enforcement.”

Dole disclosed the ransomware assault on February 22 and stated it had a restricted affect on its operations.

The assault was disclosed after clients complained about delays and shortages of Dole merchandise on retailer cabinets for over per week.

A memo despatched to American shops leaked on-line by Texan Stewart’s grocery retailer stated that Dole would implement a disaster administration protocol that included what was described because the “Handbook Backup Program.” 

​This doubtless meant that the corporate would return to guide operations, which might’ve helped resume manufacturing and shipments, though at a a lot slower tempo.

“All our companies are implementing our Disaster Administration Protocol to renew ‘enterprise as typical’ put up haste, inclusive of our Handbook Backup Program if wanted. Please bear with us as we navigate our method and hopefully we’ll decrease this occasion,” Dole stated.

Whereas the corporate stated the ransomware assault had restricted affect, it was pressured on the time to close down manufacturing crops throughout North America.

“Dole Meals Firm is within the midst of a cyberattack, and [we] have subsequently shut down our techniques all through North America. Our crops are shut down for the day, and all shipments are on maintain,” the memo reads.