Chiquita.com marketer, producer and distributor of quality fresh fruit
Overview
Chiquita Brands International is an international producer and distributer of various fruits (namely the company's now famous bananas) based in Cincinnati Ohio. The companies name is actually a Spanish word, literally translating to 'little,' which is in fact used colloquially in Spanish speaking countries to address a female friend. Chiquita's history can be traced back through over 100 years, and as such they have grown to become perhaps the largest banana distributor in the United States.
History
Chiquita's origins can be traced back to 1870, at which time Captain Lorenzo Dow Baker purchased 160 bunches of bananas while in Jamaica, to be sold 11 days later for profit in New Jersey. In 1885, he initiated a partnership with Andrew Preston to form the Boston Fruit Company.
The Boston Fruit Company would go through many mergers and name changes over the next 50 years. In 1899, Boston Fruit Company became the United Fruit Company through a small merger. Almost immediately afterwards, the United Fruit Company formed the Fruit Dispatch Company for the purpose distributing bananas throughout the United States. Throughout the early 1900s, the United Fruit Company could be said to have revolutionized overseas fruit trade, introducing such innovations as white painted ships (so as to reflect sunlight and keep fruit at an optimum temperature), refrigerated ships, the first string of unbroken wireless communication from North America to South America, and the first banana research facility in Latin America, created to work towards developing disease resistant bananas.
Finally, in 1944, the United Fruit Company became Chiquita Brands International, along with their trademark Miss Chiquita mascot and their recognizable jingle.
In May of 1998, Michael Gallagher of The Cincinnati Enquirer published an eighteen page article in which he accused Chiquita of such crimes as the mistreatment of its workers, the smuggling of cocaine, and the bribing of foreign officials, among other things. Less than two months later, The Cincinnati Enquirer retracted the story and issued a front page apology, along with settling with Chiquita for over 10 million dollars.
Since then, Chiquita has grown smoothly into their position as the number one supplier of bananas to the United States, with only one notable financial incident in 2001, during which Chiquita was forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but recovered less than a year later.
Products
Chiquita is undoubtedly best known for its bananas, with Chiquita brand awareness in the United States now reaching up to 98%. However, Chiquita also produces and distributes a variety of other fruits, including apples, avocados, grapes, kiwi, cherries, melons, pears, pineapples, and stone fruit. In addition to fruits, Chiquita also produces various juices and chips.
Locations
Chiquita currently employs over 26,000 people with headquarters on six different continents, including North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. At any given time Chiquita farms bananas on over 140,000 acres of land throughout Panama, Costa Rica, Columbia, Guatemala, Honduras, the Philippines, and Australia.
Moral Standpoints
Despite unproven accusations of employee mistreatment, Chiquita is known for advertising its platform of environmental preservation. They are currently involved with the Rain Forest Alliance's Better Banana Project, a movement to protect the environment and the employees of banana harvesting companies. Chiquita also prides itself on being involved in various projects including recycling, reforestation, worker safety, and wildlife studies.
Address
- 250 E Fifth St
- Cincinnati OH 45202 US
Contact
- Chiquita Brands
-
- Fax: 513 397 1
Additional Information
Related Domains
External Links
- Stock: CQB
- Alexa: Chiquita.com
