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| While we have spent millions of dollars
to comply with environmental standards, we have seen savings already
as a result of re-evaluating our programs and improving our cost efficiency. |
Bob Kistinger
President and COO
Chiquita Fresh Group |
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| Chiquita Brands International |
Cincinnati-based Chiquita
Brands International, Inc. is the largest producer and distributor
of bananas in the United States, accounting for roughly one quarter
of the world’s banana production.
In the early 1990s when the banana industry came under increased scrutiny
due to concerns about deforestation, pesticide use, water pollution
and other environmental issues, Chiquita took an unlikely path: it
partnered with the nonprofit Rainforest Alliance to comply with standards
that have since become known as the Better Banana Project.
The
Rainforest Alliance, an international nonprofit organization dedicated
to the conservation of tropical forests, researched and developed
comprehensive standards and guidelines against which trained assessors
evaluate farms. They also created a certification program to give
a green seal of approval to farms that meet the standards.
In October 2000, Chiquita achieved certification of 100 percent of
its company-owned farms throughout Latin America. In addition, 65
percent of the independent farms that supply Chiquita have achieved
certification from the Rainforest Alliance. This covers 90 percent
of Chiquita’s banana volume in Europe and approximately two-thirds
of the volume to North America. Chiquita is the only global banana
company to have undertaken and met the strict environmental standards.
The Rainforest Alliance standards are based on nine general principles:
ecosystem conservation, wildlife conservation, fair treatment and
good conditions for workers, good community relations, integrated
pest management, integrated management of waste, conservation of water
resources, soil conservation and planning and monitoring.
Other companies are now following Chiquita’s lead. Favorita,
one of the largest banana companies in Ecuador has been encouraged
by the benefits of the Chiquita program. Chiquita’s leadership
has also been recognized by Social Accountability International as
the recipient of its 2003 Corporate Conscience Award for Innovative
Partnership.
To learn more about Chiquita’s partnership with the Rainforest
Alliance, contact David McLaughlin at dmclaughlin@chiquita.com.
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