"Today all 110 of Chiquita's company-owned farms and the vast majority of its independent farms are certified by the Rainforest Alliance. Chiquita now recycles 100 percent of its plastic bags and twine and has reduced pesticide use by 26 percent."
Still, Chiquita is just getting started, and the results are beginning to show up on the bottom line. According to spokesman Michael Mitchell, the company now saves $5 million a year on pesticides, while productivity is up 27 percent. "Our CEO said, 'This is the first time I've made an investment decision without having a spreadsheet in front of me, and it's been one of the best,'" McLaughlin says. "I agree totally."
