Chiquita Brands International Inc. issued a statement March 14 from Fernando Aguirre, chairman and chief executive officer, in response to an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the previously disclosed investigation of protection payments made by the company's former banana-producing subsidiary in Colombia: "The information filed today is part of a plea agreement, which we view as a reasoned solution to the dilemma the company faced several years ago.

Melissa's/World Variety Produce Inc. in Los Angeles began shipping Sicilian Tarocco oranges the week of March 12, and Robert Schueller, director of public relations for Melissa's, said that this season's crop is living up to its reputation for high quality.

Five Crowns Marketing in Brawley, CA, has announced plans to build what will be the Imperial Valley's first citrus packinghouse and to do its own marketing for the fruit packed in the facility. In conjunction with that expansion, the company has also announced the hiring of Mike Maler as vice president of retail sales.

Mango importers in the United States have entered a rare demand-exceeds- supply situation as shipments from Peru have just about stopped and the early part of the Mexican deal is marked by light supplies.

As Texas growers and shippers welcome the start of the onion season this year, they begin with a market that has demand exceeding supplies. In fact, as March began, 40-pound cartons of onions from Mexico saw an f.o.b. price above $30 - a number seen only once or twice over the last 35 years.

After years of importing fruit from and introducing its new fruit varieties to Chile, Sun World International LLC in Bakersfield, CA, has established an operation in the capital of Chile.

Sun World Chile, based in Santiago, is managed by long-time Chilean fruit industry veteran Rafael Parada, who coordinates all of Sun World's fruit exports to North America as well as its variety development and licensing programs, according to Sun World Senior Vice Presidents David Marguleas and Dirk Winkelmann.