-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GYH/LWdy1XVzuwopchb2h5MPAzDUxsxA679qbcOdoAnde5VQ1gJKV3RmV726bjqf
 yJPlfhTnKH4v9VOfkDuJuA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000101063-11-000001.txt : 20110105
<SEC-HEADER>0000101063-11-000001.hdr.sgml : 20110105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110105115727
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000101063-11-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Huston Joseph M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001508680

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-01550
		FILM NUMBER:		11509612

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 EAST FIFTH STREET
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000101063
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION - CROPS [0100]
		IRS NUMBER:				041923360
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 E FIFTH ST
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5137848880

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
		STREET 2:		250 EAST FIFTH STREET
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNITED BRANDS CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900403
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000101063</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CQB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001508680</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Huston Joseph M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>250 EAST FIFTH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, North America</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19324</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1621</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2706</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5343</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14132</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2427</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by 401(K) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1. Table 1, Item 1  Represents unvested shares issuable on the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan, which vests as to 1,621 shares on August 7, 2011 as long as the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or a subsidiary on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">2. Table 1, Item 1  Represents unvested shares issuable on the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan, which vests as to 1,353 shares on each of  August 5, 2011 and 2012 as long as the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or a subsidiary on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">3.  Table 1, Item 1  Represents unvested shares issuable on the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan, which vests as to 1,781 shares on each of August 11, 2011, 2012 and 2013 as long as the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or a subsidiary on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">4.  Table 1, Item 1  Represents unvested shares issuable on the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit Award granted pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan, which vests as to 3,533 shares on each of  August 3, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 as long as the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or a subsidiary on the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">5. Represents the number of whole units held in the Chiquita Stock Fund of the Company's Savings and Investment Plan, a 401(k) Plan, based on the most recent plan statement dated at September 30, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Joseph M. Huston</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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