Chiquita Brands International Selected as Winner of 16th Annual Triad Annual Report Awards Competition

Business Wire, Nov 2, 2006

CHICAGO -- At the 16th annual Triad Annual Report Awards competition today it was announced that Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (NYSE: CQB) of Cincinnati, Ohio was selected as the winner of the 2006 award for the best annual report.

Selected from the annual reports of nearly 600 companies across the Midwest, Chiquita Brands International has proven its dedication to shareholder communication as demonstrated by its status as a Top 10 finalist for the third year in a row.

Chiquita Brands International was selected from among a pool of nearly 600 Midwestern companies. The Triad program also announced nine other reports that, together with Chiquita Brands International, comprise the Triad Awards Top 10 reports for 2006.

In alphabetical order, the Triad Awards 2006 Top 10 finalists, including Chiquita Brands International include:

* Abbott Laboratories, (NYSE: ABT), Abbott Park, Illinois

* A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., (NYSE: AGE), St. Louis, Missouri

* Arch Coal, Inc., (NYSE: ACI), St. Louis, Missouri

* Chiquita Brands International, Inc., (NYSE: CQB), Cincinnati, Ohio

* Harley-Davidson, Inc., (NYSE: HDI), Milwaukee, Wisconsin

* HNI Corporation, (NYSE: HNI), Muscatine, Iowa

* Molex Incorporated, (NASDAQ: MOLX), Lisle, Illinois

* Stryker Corporation, (NYSE: SYK), Kalamazoo, Michigan

* The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, (NYSE: SMG), Marysville, Ohio

* Xcel Energy, (NYSE: XEL), Minneapolis, Minnesota

All reports submitted for this year's Triad Awards competition were judged by members of the Chicago Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI-Chicago), the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and professors from DePaul University's Department of Finance. These three leading organizations represent professionals in the fields of investor relations, graphic design and academia who evaluate the reports using criteria relevant to each field to determine the winning annual reports.

"Each year, we take great pride in attempting to create an annual report that combines outstanding design and writing in a way that clearly communicates to investors and other stakeholders our long-term vision and strategy as well as our achievements from the previous year," said Mike Mitchell, director of corporate communications for Chiquita. "Chiquita is honored to be recognized for producing such an effective communication tool."

"On behalf of NIRI-Chicago, AIGA and DePaul University, congratulations to Chiquita and the other finalists in this year's competition," said William D. Chapman, president of NIRI-Chicago. "This commitment by so many companies to provide clear and strategic annual report communication and design, demonstrates the continued importance placed on the annual report as a vital tool for corporate investor relations."

The prestigious Triad Awards is the only program of its kind. With thousands of annual reports submitted by hundreds of Midwestern public companies since 1991, the Triad program recognizes the very best in communication and design. Annual reports are solicited every spring from publicly traded companies in eight Midwestern states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. The non-commercial program requires no annual fees or membership to participate, and is unique for the reason that three independent organizations with common interests sponsor and evaluate annual reports from all public companies in a specific geographic region.

More information on the Triad Awards can be found by visiting http://www.niri-chicago.org/cg/awards/triad/2006/triad.html.> NIRI-CHICAGO

The Chicago Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI-Chicago) works to advance the practice of investor relations and meet the growing professional development needs of those engaged in the field. With more than 200 members, NIRI-Chicago is one of the largest NIRI chapters in the United States and received NIRI's Best Overall Large Chapter Award in 2004. Its members include corporate officers, consultants, service providers, academics, and others involved in the practice of investor relations, a strategic management responsibility that integrates finance, communication, marketing and securities law compliance. More information about NIRI-Chicago is available at www.niri-chicago.org.

AIGA

The American Institute of Graphic Arts / Chicago Chapter is one of the largest and most vital chapters in the country with over 1,200 active members. The purpose of AIGA is to further excellence in communication design as a broadly defined discipline, strategic tool for business and cultural force. AIGA is the place design professionals turn to first to exchange ideas and information, participate in critical analysis and research and advance education and ethical practice.

DePaul University

DePaul University's Department of Finance is dedicated to offering a conceptually grounded, quality education for a broad community of learners. Central to this mission is providing a foundation for lifelong learning and enhanced professional and intellectual growth for our community of students, faculty, business and alumni.