Exhibit 99.1

                              CHIQUITA
                     [Logo]   BRANDS
                              INTERNATIONAL
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NEWS RELEASE

                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
         CHIQUITA COMPLETES $120 MILLION CREDIT FACILITY


CINCINNATI, OHIO, March 14, 2001 - Chiquita Brands International,
Inc. (NYSE:CQB) today announced that its principal operating
subsidiary, Chiquita Brands, Inc. has completed its previously
announced three-year $120 million secured credit facility with
Foothill Capital Corporation and Ableco Finance LLC.  The new
facility, which consists of a term loan of $75 million and a
revolving credit facility of $45 million, has been used to repay
$50 million of maturing subsidiary debt.  The remaining amounts
are for seasonal working capital needs and other general
corporate purposes.  The completion of this credit facility will
not alter Chiquita's previously announced financial restructuring
initiative.

Steven G. Warshaw, President and Chief Operating Officer of
Chiquita, said:  "With this three-year credit facility in place,
the Company's financial resources and cash flow will be more than
adequate to provide for the day-to-day needs of our operating
companies as we make progress on the proposed financial
restructuring of the parent company debt announced in January."

Chiquita is a leading international marketer, producer and
distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables and processed foods.
Foothill Capital Corporation is a leading provider of asset-based
financing to middle market companies.  Foothill is a subsidiary
of Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services
company.

This press release contains certain statements that are "forward-
looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Act of 1995. These statements are subject to a number
of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the Company's
ability to reach agreement with holders of its parent company
debt regarding a restructuring of such debt, the terms of any
such restructuring, the anticipated issuance of a going concern
modification to the independent auditor's report on the
consolidated financial statements of the Company as a result of
the Company's suspension of interest and principal payments on
its parent company debt, product pricing, cost to purchase or
grow (and availability of) fresh produce and other raw materials,
currency exchange rate fluctuations, natural disasters and
unusual weather conditions, operating efficiencies, labor
relations, actions of governmental bodies, including actions with
regard to the European Union's banana import regime, and other
market and competitive conditions, many of which are beyond the
control of Chiquita. Actual results or developments may differ
materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements, and the Company undertakes no
obligation to update any such statements.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
James B. Riley,
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (513) 784-6307
William T. Sandstrom,
Director of Investor Relations (513) 784-6366