Chiquita Brands International began when ship captain Lorenzo Dow Baker purchased 160 bunches of bananas in Jamaica in 1870 and resold them in New Jersey at a profit. In 1878 Baker partnered with Central American railroad developer Minor C. Kieth to form the Boston Fruit Company.
In 1899 the United Fruit Company was formed by the merger of Boston Fruit Company and other fruit exporting companies also controlled by Kieth.
By 1930 the company was using refrigeration during open sea transport and had a fleet of 95 ships.
By 1955 Chiquita was a registered trademark and the company was processing 2.7 billion pounds of fruit per year.
In 1990 United Fruit Company changed its name to Chiquita Brands International.
Today Chiquita grows, produces, markets, and sells bananas, melons, tomatoes, grapes, apples, pineapples, and whole citrus fruits, as well as packaged fresh items, processed fruit ingredients, and juices. The company’s products are sold in 70 countries worldwide.
Chiquita Brands International is traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CQB, is a member of the Russell 2000, is #717 in the Fortune 1000, has 20,000 employees, and had $3.07 billion in revenue in 2013.
Chiquita Brands InternationalChiquita Brands International began when ship captain Lorenzo Dow Baker purchased 160 bunches of bananas in Jamaica in 1870 and resold them in New Jersey at a profit. In 1878 Baker partnered with Central American railroad developer Minor C. Kieth to form the Boston Fruit Company.
In 1899 the United Fruit Company was formed by the merger of Boston Fruit Company and other fruit exporting companies also controlled by Kieth.
By 1930 the company was using refrigeration during open sea transport and had a fleet of 95 ships.
History
By 1955 Chiquita was a registered trademark and the company was processing 2.7 billion pounds of fruit per year.
In 1990 United Fruit Company changed its name to Chiquita Brands International.
Today Chiquita grows, produces, markets, and sells bananas, melons, tomatoes, grapes, apples, pineapples, and whole citrus fruits, as well as packaged fresh items, processed fruit ingredients, and juices. The company’s products are sold in 70 countries worldwide.
Chiquita Brands International is traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CQB, is a member of the Russell 2000, is #717 in the Fortune 1000, has 20,000 employees, and had $3.07 billion in revenue in 2013.