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Chiquita Receives ‘2006 Contribution to Community Award’ for Corporate Responsibility Efforts in Costa Rica
Chiquita Receives ‘2006 Contribution to Community Award’ for Corporate Responsibility Efforts in Costa Rica
Published 01-16-07
Submitted by Chiquita Brands International, Inc.
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA , January 16, 2007 "“ President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica presented the 2006 Contribution to the Community Award to Chiquita Brands International on behalf of the American-Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), in recognition of Chiquita’s Nature & Community Project, an initiative designed to preserve biodiversity, promote nature conservation awareness among the local population and create new sources of income for people in the community.
"We are delighted to be able to present Chiquita with this prize in the large company category," said Linda Solar, executive director of AmCham. "The Nature & Community Project is a leading example of how a collaborative approach can benefit both the environment and communities." AmCham created the Contribution to the Community Award 10 years ago to honor companies that have a positive impact on their surroundings and invest in improving the environment both for the company’s employees and for the community.
Conserving Biodiversity with Community Support
Chiquita’s Nature and Community Project "“ developed with the support and cooperation of independent partners, including Swiss retailer Migros (www.migros.ch), international environmental protection organization Rainforest Alliance (www.ra.org), and German Technical Cooperation "“ GTZ (www.gtz.de) "“ contributes to the protection of the exceptional biodiversity of the region by encouraging local communities and farmers to actively participate in the protection of rainforests and the many species which depend on them.
The project, which started in September 2003, is based at Chiquita’s Nogal farm in the Sarapiquà region in northeastern Costa Rica. More than 100 hectares of protected rainforest on this farm were designated as "private wildlife refuge" by the Costa Rican government in January 2006. To facilitate the migration and survival of endangered species, this forest will be connected with other forest areas of the region, including the Braulio Carrillo national park, 8 km. away. To date, the creation of this biological corridor has involved the planting of 10,000 trees of more than 40 native species. Local farmers are contributing to this effort by providing land for reforestation.
Environmental education for schoolchildren, neighbors and Chiquita’s own employees plays an important role in this work, since the support of the local population is essential for long-term environmental conservation. Nearly 3,000 visitors have already participated at workshops provided at the Nogal project center.
The creation of new economic opportunities, such as ecotourism and arts and crafts based on environmental protection, is another important aspect of the project. So far, five small businesses have been established with assistance of the project, and their sales of $35,000 have contributed to the income of many families in neighboring communities.
"We see great potential in Nogal as a model for developing on-farm forest reserves and for connecting these private reserves with national parks through biological corridors," said Chris Wille, chief of sustainable agriculture for the Rainforest Alliance. "Rainforest Alliance-participating farmers are demonstrating that farms can be good neighbors to communities and can participate in local and regional efforts to conserve ecosystems and biodiversity."
"We are delighted to receive this award from AmCham, and accept it on behalf of all the partners involved in this project," said Jennifer Dinsmore, project manager at the Nogal reserve. "With this pilot project, we want to demonstrate that when businesses, local communities and the authorities work together as we do here, it becomes possible to contribute to the protection of the precious natural heritage of our region."
About Chiquita Brands International, Inc.
With annual revenues of approximately $4.5 billion, Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (NYSE: CQB) is a leading international marketer and distributor of high-quality fresh and value-added food products "“ from energy-rich bananas and other fruits to nutritious blends of convenient green salads. The company’s products and services are designed to win the hearts and smiles of the world’s consumers by helping them enjoy healthy fresh foods. The company markets its products under the Chiquita® and Fresh Express® premium brands and other related trademarks. Chiquita employs approximately 25,000 people operating in more than 70 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit our web site at www.chiquita.com.
Chiquita Brands International, Inc.
