International certification for Chiquita

Chiquita Brands has announced that independent auditors have certified its banana farms in Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama to the Social Accountability 8000 labour and human rights standard and the EurepGap food safety standard. The SA 8000 certifications earned by the multi-national to date cover operations that employ more than 12,000 people, over half of Chiquita total employees. The EurepGap certifications cover approximately 14,000 hectares, about two third of the company's owned banana farm operations.