What led to Chiquitas decision to work with the Rainforest Alliance?
In 1992, we were invited along with other banana producers to a meeting during which we were introduced to the Rainforest Alliance standards. At the time, Chiquita’s new leadership was actively searching for a sustainable approach to agriculture. The Rainforest Alliance’s well thought-out system — with its comprehensive criteria and viable means of implementation — met our own needs. Soon after testing the standards on two farms and overcoming initial skepticism, we decided to implement the program company-wide. Why would Chiquita agree to spend some $20 million on improving its facilities and infrastructure in order to meet the Rainforest Alliance’s certification requirements? We were persuaded early on that investing in the upgrade of worker housing and safety equipment, for example, would be a worthwhile investment for the company. Since then, responsible production has become a key concern among many of our consumers and customers. So the investment has paid off. Good agricultura
