Chiquita Brands International today announced the relocation of its US west-coast port operations to the Port of Hueneme from Long Beach. Chiquita's weekly vessel service from Guatemala, including bananas and other fresh produce, is targeted to come into operation on November 1, 2004. The Port of Hueneme is located north-west of Los Angeles in Ventura County and has committed to important infrastructure improvements for container and pallet handling.

Chiquita also announced a long-term operating agreement with reefer operator LauritzenCool, which has on-dock refrigerated facilities where the company will store its cargo.

"Chiquita and Great White Fleet have chartered reefer ships from

LauritzenCool for many years," said Deverl Maserang, vice president of logistics, Chiquita Fresh North America.. "Extending this cooperation to shore logistics and operations is a natural expansion of our relationship," said Jeffrey Brown, president of Great White Fleet.