Chiquita Sets Annual Meeting Date of May 20, 2009

CINCINNATI - Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (NYSE: CQB) announced today that it
will hold its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 20, 2009, on the 28th
floor of the Chiquita Center at 250 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati. The record
date for determining shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be
March 23, 2009. In mid-April, the company will mail to shareholders of record
a notice of the meeting and information about accessing the proxy materials
online or obtaining paper copies.

Chiquita Brands International, Inc. 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 markets its healthy, fresh products under the Chiquita(R)
and Fresh Express(R) premium brands and other related trademarks. With annual
revenues of nearly US$4 billion, Chiquita employs approximately 23,000 people
and has operations in more than 80 countries worldwide. For more information,
please visit www.chiquita.com.

Source: Chiquita Brands International, Inc.

Ed Loyd of Chiquita Brands International, Inc., +1-513-784-8935, eloyd at chiquita.com