Dole Packaged Foods Dazzles Rose Parade Audience with Sixth Straight Award-Winning Float

Dole Packaged Foods' 2016 Rose Parade float, "Soaring over Paradise," took home the Director's Trophy from the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade for its outstanding artistic merit in design and floral presentation. Dole has received much recognition from the Tournament, holding the Rose Parade record for having won the Sweepstakes Trophy five consecutive years for its 2011 – 2015 floats.

"Soaring over Paradise," explores the world's rainforests where more than 30 million species of plants and animals can be found. The float was created with four waterfalls, a zip line that travelled through the rainforest canopy, and a flock of sculptured Macaws that appear to take flight over the floral gardens, company officials say. The Macaws were a tribute to float designer Raul R. Rodriguez, who passed away earlier this year. Raul designed four of Dole's award-winning Rose Parade floats with his pet Macaw, Sebastian, by his side. Raul's partner, Robert Cash, rode on the float with Sebastian further honoring Raul.

With the mission to encourage people to live healthy vibrant lifestyles, the float featured non-GMO fruits provided by Dole Packaged Foods, including bananas, pineapples, strawberries and mangoes. Four waterfalls with more than 1,000 gallons of cascading recycled water set the backdrop to the tropical extravaganza, officials add. Animals throughout the float included sculptured Asian elephants, a leopard, Bengal tigers, a boa constrictor, love birds and frogs all among tropical cascades of exotic flowers and roses.

Keeping with the Rose Parade theme, "Find Your Adventure," the float featured the first-ever zip line on a Rose Parade float. The rider traveled the length of the float about 100 times throughout the entire parade. Additionally, twelve costumed dancers lined up surrounding the float, performing a fusion of traditional and modern ethnic dances.

Created by Fiesta Parade Floats, "Soaring over Paradise" stood at 55 feet long, 18 feet wide and over 26 feet tall.  Fiesta Parade Floats also designed and built, with the help of Dole employees, Dole Packaged Foods' previous award-winning entries – 2015 "Rhythm of Hawaii," 2014 "Sunrise at the Oasis," 2013 "Dreaming of Paradise," 2012 "Preserving Paradise" and its 2011 entry "Living Well in Paradise."