Chiquita has decided to continue its banana ripening operations at Mississippi's Gulfport, despite having recently indicated it would move them to the Port of New Orleans. 

Website Neworleanscitybusiness.com reported the multinational's change of plans was due to the company's change in ownership a few months ago.

"We don’t know that it will ever come here at this point," Port of New Orleans president and CEO LaGrange was quoted as saying, adding that negotiations were ongoing between the port, Chiquita and the state.

The port's director of external affairs Matt Gresham confirmed to www.freshfruitportal.com that 'for now' Chiquita has decided to continue its ripening operations in Mississippi.

"In exchange we have received more of their export business that we did not anticipate – such as clothing, tools and machinery necessary for operating a farm and harvesting bananas," Gresham said.

He added that the ripening business was a 'very small part' of Chiquita's operations.

LaGrange also reportedly said Chiquita's cargo movement accounted for 99% of benefits to the port.

Chiquita’s was close to signing a lease on a 51,000-square-foot warehouse near downtown, Neworleanscitybusiness.com reported.

The state and port had planned to spend US$2.6 million on putting structures inside the warehouse that could be used to ripen bananas, according to the publication.

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www.fresfruitportal.com