UPDATE 2-Monsanto, Dole to try to build better veggies

* Dole, Monsanto want to create more desirable veggies

* Focus on taste, texture, nutrients, and shelf life

* Results may be sold by Dole (Adds Monsanto comments, background, byline)

By Ian Sherr

CHICAGO, June 23 (Reuters) - Monsanto Co (MON.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc are formalizing a partnership to breed broccoli, spinach and other vegetables that would be more attractive to consumers.

The five-year collaboration, announced on Tuesday, will focus on creating variations of broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and spinach, the companies said in a statement.

The focus of their efforts is to breed more colorful, tastier vegetables that are less susceptible to bruising and have a longer shelf-life.

"If I buy broccoli on Saturday or Sunday and try to cook it on Wednesday, it'll get wilty," Monsanto spokeswoman Riddhi Trivedi-St. Clair said of one of reasons for the program.

She also stressed that these new variants will not be genetically modified like the company's corn seed and soybean products, a much larger operation for Monsanto.