SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                            FORM 8-K

                         CURRENT REPORT


             PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                 SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                Date of Report (Date of Earliest
                 Event Reported):  March 9, 2001



               CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
       (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



          New Jersey         1-1550         04-1923360
         (State or Other  (Commission      (IRS Employer
       Jurisdiction of    File Number)    Identification No.)
        Incorporation)


      250 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (Address of
            Principal Executive Offices)


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (513)

                         784-8000





















            INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT



Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9 are not applicable and are omitted
from this report.


ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS.


     Reference  is made to the press release attached as  Exhibit
7(c) 99.1.   On  March  9,  2001, the Corporation's  subsidiary,
Chiquita   Brands,  Inc.,  consummated  a  $120  million   credit
facility,  including a $75 million term loan and  a  $45  million
revolving credit facility. .  The revolving credit line will be
available for seasonal working capital needs and other general
corporate purposes.  The facility is secured by  liens  on
substantially  all  U.S.  assets of the  Borrower  and  its  U.S.
subsidiaries,  as well as pledges of stock of, or guarantees  by,
various  subsidiaries worldwide.  A copy of the Credit  Agreement
is attached as Exhibit 7(c) 10.1 to this Report.

ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
          AND EXHIBITS.
     (a)  Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired

          Not Applicable

     (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information

          Not Applicable


     (c)  Exhibits

          10.1  $120,000,000 Credit Agreement dated as of March
          7, 2001  among Chiquita Brands Inc., as Borrower, the
          Lenders designated therein, and  Foothill Capital
          Corporation, as Arranger and Administrative Agent.


          99.1 Press Release dated March 14, 2001.













                           SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.




Date: March 14, 2001     CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                              By:  /S/WILLIAM A. TSACALIS
                                   William A. Tsacalis
                              Vice President and Controller